RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Scott T. CellaFebruary 15, 2011

EDUC-610

The First Amendment The Establishment Clause: Separation of

Church and State No religion has more rights than another.

The Free-Enterprise Clause: Prevents government from limiting Americans expressing religious beliefs.

Where we are today has been driven by lawsuits

The Lemon Test1. Must have secular purpose.

2. Must not have the effect of advancing or inhibiting religion.

-Impossible in most religions

3. Avoid excessive entanglement between government and religion.

The Facts in Life Individuals make many life choices based

on religion.

Schools are responsible to accommodate, not promote.

Controversial topics (homosexuality, premarital sex, abortion) must be approached with caution.

Creation vs. Evolution

Creation Belonging in Schools? Viewpoints not only ignored, but

ridiculed.

Evolution is presented as fact, though has noticeable holes.

Violated First Amendment right.

Evolution = Theory (not re-testable or observable)

Interesting Ideas Evolutionists refuse two religious ideas:

1. Existence of God 2. Noah’s Flood

Example: Canopy Theory

Evolutionist’s Rebutal Preaching “religion” with taxpayers’

money is unconstitutional.

Evolution is the best theory at this point.

Has physical evidence which supports their research.

Which Should be Taught? Neither theory can be claimed as true

science since they are not testable.

Both ideas require some amount of faith.

Realistically, this battle is between a small amount of the population.

Solution Teach both theories AND other beliefs

that students’ may have.

Don’t have to lecture, just promote awareness.

Be constructivist, not fundamentalists.

Students should be able to defend their theories(Bloom’s Taxonomy: Evaluation)

NOT how the world began

But how living things have ed as their env ed

8 evidences – not proof – just evidence

1.FOSSILSPreserved remains of earlier life

Found diff horses and elephants

– allow to track changes over time

2. Relative Dating

Distance/depth fossils underground – RELATIVE dating

What’s older/youngerFossils = sedimentary rock only

Layers harden/pressure rock

3. Radioactive Dating More precise

Measure decay of radioactive elements

4. Vestigial Structuresbody parts without apparent purpose – their size or shape or function has changed

Appendix digest heavy fiber

Human = 8 cm koala = 20 cmAs human diet no needSize decreases

Tonsils??? Someday???

Hip bones found whales + snakes ?????

5. Homologous structuresSimilar body parts different animals

Same # + arrangement bones

6. Embryology

Similarities btn fetuses different species

7. DNA

Newest tool – similarities N2 base patterns

8.New Features

Certain bacteria used to be killed by penicillin

Now becoming penicillin resistant – exposed changing properties

– ex antibody resistance