Final answer:
Various religious organizations and individuals opposed attempts to separate religion from public life, especially in schools. This opposition is seen in the laws forbidding government aid to religious schools and conflicts between the public school curriculum and the beliefs of children from different religious traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The opponents that opposed all attempts to separate formal religion from public life, especially in schools, were various religious organizations and individuals.
Throughout history, there have been debates and legal cases concerning the role of religion in public life, including schools. In the United States, fears of immigrants not assimilating brought about laws forbidding government aid to religious schools. This opposition to the separation of formal religion from public life was also seen in conflicts between the public school curriculum and the beliefs of children from different religious traditions.
Opponents of school vouchers have raised questions about whether public funding for private religious education undermines the ideal of civil religion. Additionally, opponents of allowing prayer in public schools argue that it violates the Establishment Clause as it uses government authority and resources to establish a religion or compel participation.