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October 2005
[Go to main story-The Heresy of Nosson Slifkin]
Darwin’s Jewish Defenders
For the many American Jews who choose public education for their children, the teaching of creationism and intelligent design is an especially weighty issue. Enter civil action groups like the American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Committee, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and others. Since the early 20th century, these groups have adamantly defended the First Amendment provision requiring separation of church and state, most notably within state school systems. That “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” has been the foundation argument for Jews who do not want a religious version of creation entering into classroom science or undermining the religious rights of Jews and other minorities. As far back as 1925’s Scopes “Monkey” Trial—which roused public attention to the evolution vs. creationism debate—and up to the present, these Jewish groups have argued for the elimination of spiritual teachings, regardless of denomination, from public spheres.
1968 Epperson v. Arkansas
Louisiana’s “anti-evolution” statute forbade the teaching of evolutionary theory in public schools and universities.
A Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Abraham Fortas, delivered the majority opinion that the statute violated the First Amendment.
1982 McLean v. Arkansas
Jewish groups took action after Arkansas Governor Frank White signed into law the “Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act.” Finding that the law in fact violated the First Amendment, a U.S. District Court ruled that “creation science is not in fact a science,” and moreover, that the theory of evolution does not presuppose either the absence or presence of a creator.
1997 Freiler v. Tangipahoa Parish Board of Education
A Louisiana school board mandated that a disclaimer be read immediately before teaching evolution in all elementary and secondary classes. The Eastern District Court of Louisiana agreed with the American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee and Hadassah, and declared that the disclaimer effectively deemed faith in conflict with science, a violation of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court upheld the decision.
2005 Selman v. Cobb County School District
This yet unresolved controversy began in the spring of 2002 when Atlanta’s heavily Christian Cobb County School District adopted a high school textbook that includes extensive coverage of evolution. Fearful of public reaction, the textbook committee labeled books with stickers that remind readers that evolution is a theory to be considered critically. The American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee and the National Council for Jewish Women argue that the school district has taken the side of religious objectors in the debate over teaching evolution.
2005 Odessa, Texas School Board Controversy
As the Odessa, Texas, school board makes plans to add elective Bible study to the 2006 high school curriculum, critics are crying out against sectarian biases. The American Jewish Congress asserts that more appropriate textbooks and approaches to classroom Bible discussion must be found to fit within constitutional precedents.
2005 “Intelligent Design” Controversy
In Kansas, the State Board of Education has approved a draft of science standards that harshly criticize evolution.
The standards—used to develop state tests for 4th, 7th and 10th graders—alarm Jewish groups who recognize “intelligent design” rhetoric in the draft’s language.
2005 Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District
A rural Pennsylvania community has become the nation’s first to mandate the teaching of “intelligent design” theory. Both Jewish and secular constitutional activists denounce the community’s 9th-grade biology curriculum as an attempt to include creationist philosophy in public education; they argue their case before the Supreme Court this fall.
—Rebecca Dreilinger
[Go to main story-The Heresy of Nosson Slifkin]
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