Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District Essay - 1635 Words

In cases having to do with constitutionality, the issue of the separation of church and state arises with marked frequency. This battle, which has raged since the nation?s founding, touches the very heart of the United States public, and pits two of the countrys most important influences of public opinion against one another. Although some material containing religious content has found its way into many of the nations public schools, its inclusion stems from its contextual and historical importance, which is heavily supported by material evidence and documentation. It often results from a teacher?s own decision, rather than from a decision handed down from above by a higher power. The proposal of the Dover Area School District to†¦show more content†¦If approved, the bill would require intelligent design to be taught alongside any evolutionary theory in order to present an ?explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin?s view?. Additionally, it would require a statement to be read that expresses doubts about Darwinist theories (Baksa 1). The Court is now confronted with the responsibility of determining if Dover?s proposition, and the implications of its implementation are constitutional, or whether they would violate fundamental personal freedoms. In order to make its decision, the court must contemplate many facets of the issue, including: if the religious origins of intelligent design permeate the theory too strongly, if teaching I.D. in schools would violate statutes regarding state funding for public schools, and even if the theory provides sufficient factual scientific evidence to be taught as a scientific theory in a school?s biology curriculum. Case law supporting the absence of the instruction of intelligent design theory from secular, public education cites several main grounds for exclusion, including the unconstitutionality of ?sponsorship, financial support, and active involvement of the sovereign in religious activity? [397 U.S. 664]. The 1987 case Edwards v. Aguillard requires any religiously-related instruction to have ?a clear secular purpose? [482 U.S. 578]. The legislation addressed in this case?the CreationismShow MoreRelatedIntelligent Design: An Intelligent Way of Disguising Religion1346 Words   |  6 PagesEvolutionists say humans evolved from apes, but many religious people cannot swallow the thought. For years, religious people have voiced their unhappiness that schools teach evolution. The Bible says that God put all the plants, animals, and people on this planet, and evolution completely contradicts that. The idea of including creationism in schools has been brought to courts multiple times but with no success. Now the creationists have a new way of presenting it. They disguise it behind science and useRead MoreIntelligent Design Essays1315 Words   |  6 Pagestheories is inappropriate and according to Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District is illegal in public schools. Kitzmiller was the first case brought before the federal court in the intelligent design debate. In the process of teaching the origins of life in school it attempted to require the reading of a statement in science class that offered intelligent design as an alternative to evolution. The judge, John Edward Jones III, later ruled against Kitzmiller stating in essence that teaching intelligentRead MoreThe Debate of Orgin: Creationsim versus Evolutionism992 Words   |  4 Pagessometimes labeled, Intelligent Design, be taught in public schools? The answer, of course, is no. 23% of High School students surveyed said that no, they do not believe in creationism and yet the attend church every week. This is compared to 20% of people who attend weekly and do believe in creationism. What this means is that creationist beliefs and ideals are less common among religious folk than the theory of Evolution. As a total, 36% of High School students said they believed in Creationism, and ofRead MoreShould Religious Education Be Public Schools?1719 Words   |  7 Pageshave religious education in our schools. Religion is a taboo issue and turns even more taboo when we involve children. Many oppose the teaching of region in our schools for the simple reason of separation of church and state. Another reason this is met with resistance would include all the reasons for which religion is frowned upon such as: crating division amongst people and misunderstandings. However, others argue that religious education is necessary in public schools due to the immense diversity