Evolution Education in America By Alex Fletcher

Historical Perspective  Rise of evolution education:  Birth of Evangelical creationism:  The cold war:  An American Scientific Renaissance:  Creationists call to arms:  Intelligent Design:  Current Trends

Rise of evolution education:  Publication of “The Origin of Species” 1859  Lag Time:  Evolution gets taught:

Birth of Creationism  Prohibition  Anti-evolution laws  Scopes Trial Breaking the law?  Trial of the Century

Outcome of the Trial  Bryan  Darrow  Tennessee Supreme court  Scopes  Public Opinion  Textbooks

The cold war:  Neither side takes action  Establishment Clause  Everson v. Board of Education of New Jersey

The First Amendment  “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting free exercise thereof”

Scientific Renaissance:  Sputnik  Evolution returns to textbooks  Repeal of anti- evolution laws  Epperson v Arkansas  Tennessee Law Repealed  Smith v. State

Creationists call to arms:  Creation Science  Evidence for Creation  Evolution as religion  Equal Time laws  Judicial v. Legislative  Wendell Bird

Intelligent Design:  Aesthetic Changes  Religious Rights for Teachers?  Local legislative action  143 occasions in 34 States  Kansas- 1999

The End of ID?  2005 – Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District  Parents sue district  Theory not a fact  ID is an alternative  Book in the Library " For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the religious nature of ID [intelligent design] would be readily apparent to an objective observer, adult or child"

Current Trends:  Focus on “Strengths and Weaknesses” and “Academic Freedom”  New attempts- Eight States in 2008 to 2009  Kansas changes mind again (2005)  Require teachers to read statement

It has been a long journey

But has anything changed?  

Gallup Poll Nov Supported by evidence Not supported by evidence Don't know enough to say No opinion 2004 Nov % 29%1% 2001 Feb %39%25%1% Views on the Theory of evolution… is it?

Origin of Humans Poll

Evolution vs. Creationism in Schools May 25 th 2004

We can make the difference!

Thanks for Listening  Questions  Comments  Suggestions Alex Fletcher-