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The movie Inherit the Wind gives us a plain and simple story that the State of Tennessee passed a statute prohibiting the teaching of evolution. But in fact there was much more to it, in fact, in 1925 the Tennessee government passed the Butler Act which made it a misdemeanor to teach the evolution of only one species; mankind; in public schools. The evolution of almost all other plant and animal life (which is about 2 million species) or the evolution of the earth or the solar system could all be taught as either a persuasive theory or proven fact without violating the Butler Act.…
Religion, politics, ethics should be prohibited to be taught in public schools. Should not be taught in public schools because it could corrupt students’ minds, it could offend people and cause conflict that could result into a very violence senareo between parents vs teachers and teachers vs students and that it would be a big battle and result in the hands of the court.…
“Efforts to enforce a new state statute against the teaching of evolution in public schools had precipitated the arrest of Dayton educator John T. Scopes” (Pierce). Arresting a teacher for doing his job exposes the negative consequences of over-censorship. Not only was Scopes unfairly prosecuted, the students in all schools were robbed of an education. Learning about evolution could have broadened their horizons and exposed them to new ways of thinking. Instead, because society at the time feared evolution was a “threat not only to the belief in God but to the very structure of a Christian society,” their worlds were closed off (Pierce). Even after the closing of this trial, school censorship endures. Recently, the principal of Fauquier High School pulled an article from the school newspaper because a story on a new drug was “too mature” for the students (Balingit). This article, however, was intended to inform students about the new drug and describes the risks of it. The author of the article, senior SaraRose Martin explains, “I don’t think my article makes it sound good” when describing students who suffered from injuries ranging from “cracked skulls to cracked teeth” after participating in the new drug use technique (Balingit). In taking this article out of circulation, the principal took away a chance for children to be exposed to the dangers of this drug and the possibility to…
Even though Scopes had taught the theory of evolution, his defense lawyers in the case pleaded “...an act of this sort is clearly unconstitutional in that it is a restriction upon the liberties of the individual…”(Jeffrey P. Moran, Pg.82). On the other hand the prosecutors stated that teachers “...cannot teach any religion in the schools, therefore you cannot teach any evolution, or any doctrine that conflicts with the Bible.”(Jeffrey P. Moran, Pg.82). With the defense supporting science and the prosecution supporting the traditional Bible, this case has made it clear that in Dayton, Tennessee 1925 the teachings of science and religion can not simply coexist in a classroom. With teaching both religion and science in a classroom, it is inevitable that a student learning the story of the Bible and then learning the theory of science, would start to question which one holds the truth. In a letter written by Mrs. Jesse Sparks about the Butler act says, “...I could not see why the mothers in greater number were not conveying their appreciation to the members for this act of safeguarding their children from one of the destructive forces…”(Moran, Pg.204), which shows the concern from the religious point of view that the teaching of evolution might destruct the religious beliefs parents had taught their children. The reason why this topic had become so controversial was that the teaching of science conflicted with the views of the religious orthodox south which had been very dominant in 1925. This being said, science and religion in a classroom could not coexist in that day and…
As American citizens, according to the 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States, we have the right to freedom of speech. However, in certain vicinities, such as public schools, that freedom is limited. Teachers for example, cannot discuss their own political or religious views with students. In addition, neither the teacher nor the student is allowed to profane. These types of restrictions are justified by saying there is a certain time and place for those subjects and school is not the proper place. School is for fundamental education and obtaining a broad view of the world without students being compelled into believing or acting based on the views of the teachers.…
“If we do not believe in freedom of speech for those we despise, then we do not believe in it at all.” - Noam Chomsky…
When America was created, it was supposed to be a place where people could have rights such as freedom of speech and press. Freedom of speech means that citizens have the right to say and think whatever they want. Freedom of press allows citizens to write down and publish their thoughts no matter how contradictory they are. Schools around America have contradicted this freedom by banning…
First, evolution was not scientifically proven, thus it should not be taught in public schools. Secondly, the majority of the public opposed teaching evolution, so their tax dollars should not have to support paying teachers to do so. Finally, because it is illegal to teach religion in public schools, it should also be illegal to teach irreligion. Poole’s bill was defeated in 1925, and then died completely in 1927. An element of historical theory, the 20/60/20 rule, adequately describes twenty percent of the population was strongly in favor of the Poole bill, twenty percent was strongly opposed, and sixty percent that could be swayed either way. The majority of the sixty percent was ultimately pulled onto the side of those who opposed the bill by the opponents’ platform that the bill could jeopardize the separation of church and state. Preventing passage of the Poole bill signified a triumph in academic freedom in North…
The first amendment states that we as Americans have “freedom of speech, or of the press” (Source 1). Therefore, we have the right to express what we want to say, even if others do not want to hear it. On the other hand, books are banned for a reason; various books are offensive towards race, religion, and gender (Source 3). Indeed this is true, but considering books are one of the best ways to get information, it is wrong to ban a book from an entire state just because a couple parents did not want their children to read the book. In general, banning educational resources for students is…
“The reason is that government finances and thus controls the schools. If parents had full financial control of their children's education, they would judge for themselves the methods and policies of a given school; and if they disapproved of some aspect of a school (whether its testing procedures or anything else), they would be free to work out the issue directly with the school—or, if they deemed it necessary, move their child elsewhere,” says Michael A. LaFerrara in the same journal article. The government controls most of schools funds with grants and other methods of providing schools money. With the governments money in their hands the schools are forced to will their power to the ideas and methods of the government. In 2001, president George W. Bush enacted the “No Child Left Behind,” act.…
Throughout history, religion and science have been in constant clashes, and one of the most recent clashes is whether if creationism and/or intelligent design should be taught in public schools.…
Even though we have this separation, there have been debates for decades calling for changes. This argument is strongest when it comes to the public school system. There have been controversies over prayer in schools, teaching of evolution, and displaying the Ten Comandments.In the article “Does religion have a place in public schools?” it states, “Indeed, while public schools, which are run by the government, must allow students to express their own religious views, the First Amendment prevents the schools from endorsing religion or creating an environment that forces students to participate in religious exercises.” The only schools that are exempt from government laws are private schools. They can promote any religion they wish. There…
Education cannot be neutral when it comes to faith; it is either supportive or destructive. The topic of education is humanity, its savage treatment of its own kind. It’s willingness to endure self-sacrifice. And you cannot learn-or-teach-about humanity without considering God. Let’s take biology as an example. Mammals are characterized by, among other things, their tendency to care for and protect their young. Do mothers love their babies because of sheer biological imperative? If so, why do we come down so hard on fathers who neglect their children? It’s a rare male mammal that pays attention to its young. (Bauer, Susan)…
Here in America in every single state there is a set of standards for every single subject required for the teachers to teach by the end of the term. But the greatest lessons you will ever teach us will not come from your syllabus. The greatest lessons you will ever teach us you will not even remember teaching. Because you never taught us. And You never told us what we weren't aloud to say. We just learned how to hold our tongues. Now somewhere in America there is a child holding a copy of catcher of the rye and a child holding a gun. But only one of these things have been banned from their state government. And it's not the one that can rip through flesh. It's the one that says fuck you on more pages than one. Because we lose control on what the…
What happens when there are students who go to public school and only believe in Intelligent Design? They are then forced to only learn about Evolution. This can be an issue because this child knows there is more than one possibility of how the universe was…