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Wednesday, 06 June 2007 |
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No, not if the purpose is to advance religion. That’s what courts have found behind many efforts over the years to change biology teaching or texts. Schools cannot prohibit the teaching of evolution. [1] And schools can’t add religious alternatives to evolution in a science class regardless of their scientific-sounding terms like “creation science,” “intelligent design” or “irreducible complexity.” [2] Courts have also found an unconstitutional religious purpose behind variations on this theme, such as requiring teachers to read a “disclaimer” before teaching evolution. [3] [1] Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968). [2] Edwards v. Gillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987)(striking down state statute that prohibited teaching of evolution in public schools unless “creation science” was also taught); Kitzmiller v. Dover Area Sch.Dist., 400 F. Supp. 2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005)(holding “intelligent design” to be a religious explanation of origins of life). [3] Freiler v. Tangipahoa Parish Bd. of Educ., 185 F.3d 337 (5th Cir. 1999) (invalidating disclaimer required to be read to students prior to teaching of evolution because the disclaimer had the primary effect not of promoting critical thinking but of endorsing a particular religious viewpoint). |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 July 2007 )
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