Beginning in the year 1968, the first ruling on teaching
evolution in classrooms appeared in the United States. In Epperson v. Arkansas the Supreme Court ruled that it was the
Arkansas statue prohibiting the teaching of evolution in classroom was
unconstitutional. Under the establishment clause, the First Amendment prohibits
the teaching and learning that is centered around one particular religion or
religious beliefs. If the government allowed such teaching practices, it would
be favoring a particular religion, thus inadvertently establishing a religion
for the United States.
From this
first case in 1968 until 2005, there have been many court cases ruling in favor
of teaching evolution, based on the premise that it would be unconstitutional
to prevent it. However, there is one court case that did not have to do with
prohibiting the teaching of evolution but rather the teaching of “creation science”.
In 1990, in Webster v. New Lenox School
District the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals found that a school district
may prohibit a teacher from teaching creation science in order to not violate
the establishment clause of the First Amendment. The Court stated that the
school district was allowed to prohibit him from teaching “creation science”
since it is a form of religious advocacy.
This is
different from all of the other cases because it focuses on prohibiting the
teaching of creationism rather than evolution. With the cases concerning
evolution, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of teaching evolution while this
case showed a ruling against “creation science”. As a former public school
student, I can say that creationism was not mentioned during any of my science
classes. However, evolution and the
theories of Darwin were the focus of one of my entire Biology classes.
While the
Church believes that it should have “true freedom to preach the faith, to teach
her social doctrine, to exercise her role freely among men” it does not state
that these teachings must be done through all hours of the day (GS 76). Most of
the Church’s stance on Church and State is the believe that the government
should not get involved in the Church’s practices, or prohibit its worshipers
from exercising their right to practice their faith. The Church also states
that, “When authority is so exercised, citizens are bound in conscience to obey”
(GS 74). The Church wishes it members to follow the laws of the land, as long
as these laws follow their conscience and are for the greater good. Therefore,
if the Church is allowed to teach the faith to their worshipers, it should not
be required for public school teachers to teach the faith as well.
Sources:
https://ncse.com/library-resource/ten-major-court-cases-evolution-creationism
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ReplyDeleteI definitely understand where the courts where coming from. If teaching Creationism were mandated to be taught in schools, the natural question that emerges is, so who is the Creator? By having to answer this question, government employees (teachers) have to say which religion is correct, which doesn't have an objective answer that we can all agree on. I think evolution needs to be taught as a theory, but I don't think teaching Creationism as it is seen in the Bible is also the answer. Like you said, if the government is not inhibiting the ability of people to practice their religion, it cannot mandate religious education is public schools. Good job!
ReplyDeleteIt is such a hard job to balance religion and teaching in public settings. Prohibiting a teacher from being extreme on one side or another won't help anyone, including the students. Also, asking someone to teach and inform students of something they don't believe in is unfair. You do a good job of searching for a middle ground that appeals to people on both sides and respecting everyone's ideas!
ReplyDeleteI thought this post was really interesting! I did not attend public school, and my Catholic high school biology classes also focused on Darwin's theories and natural selection rather than creationism, so it is very interesting to hear about creationism being taught in schools. I definitely agree with the courts in their decision ruling against "creation science" and I think you do a really good job of presenting this decision in light of Gaudium et Spes.
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