This article draws from primary and secondary historical sources such as public policy documents, speeches, and media reports to trace attempts made by the Kentucky legislature to ban controversial topics in public school curriculum--evolution in 1922 and critical race theory in 2022. Kingdon's multiple streams framework (MSF) serves as the model…

Both evolution and climate change have broad scientific consensus, and yet they are the most contested scientific concepts in the US K-12 education system. This study aimed to explore trends in proposed US state legislation employed from 2003 to 2023 by anti-evolution and anti-climate change education movements to constrain the teaching of these…

When it comes to creationism, it might seem as if the United States is trapped in a century-long culture-war rut. In a sense, the Scopes Trial of 1925 put science itself on trial, and it can seem as if every new dispute over teaching evolution is only a repetition of that famous trial. In truth, however, the power of creationism has ebbed…

Recent anti-evolution legislation, in the form of Academic Freedom bills, has been introduced in many state legislatures over the last three years. The language in the proposed Academic Freedom bills may allow different interpretations of what can be taught in the science classrooms, and possibly spur parents to take advantage of their perceived…

This book, written by a member of the Louisiana State Legislature (who authored a bill during the 1981 legislative session mandating balanced treatment for creation-science wherever evolution-science is taught to public school children), takes a step toward answering the question: Should the scientific evidences for creation be given equal time…

The recent flap over the Kansas State Board of Education's decision to drop knowledge of evolution theory from its science standards has rekindled the perennial science/religion debate in education. This article examines mutual relationships of three knowledge structures (science, mainstream religion, and fringe beliefs) and the middle-ground's…

Historical background to Arkansas Act 590, mandating inclusion of creationism in public school curriculum, is given, including the history of antievolution bills, emergence of textbook watchers, and political issues in the law's passage. Suggestions are given for elementary and secondary teachers to become informed and active regarding…

Effects of the request for equal time (to teach creationist viewpoint) on science curriculum/instruction and teacher credibility are discussed. Uses examples from earth science to illustrate possible effects of a recent creationist bill, Maryland House Bill 1078. (JN)

Summarizes the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU's) contention that Arkansas Act 590 (equal time to teaching creationism) is unconstitutional and highlights comments of various witnesses testifying during the trial. (SK)

The University of Minnesota organized a conference ("Evolution and Public Education," December 5, 1981) to help clarify issues in the creation/evolution controversy and to examine arguments of the proponents of scientific creationism. This six-part book, a revised version of a resource manual compiled for the conference: (1) discusses the theory…

This paper traces the past and recent controversy concerning the teaching of evolution/creation in the schools. The first section of the paper discusses the opposition of Christian fundamentalists to evolution, going back to Charles Darwin's 1859 "Origin of Species." Covered also are science curriculum revisions following Sputnik, up to the 1981…

Presents the full text of Arkansas Act 590 (1981) requiring balanced treatment of creationism and evolution in public schools of this state. Includes, among others, requirements for balanced treatment, prohibition against religious instruction, requirements for nondiscrimination, definitions of "creation-science" and…

Reviews the major points of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenge to the Arkansas bill "Unbiased Presentation of Creation Science and Evolution Science Bill." (SK)

Analyzes the current evolution/creationism controversy by reviewing court cases and what scientists and educators are doing to prevent creationism from being taught as science or included in school curricula. Includes viewpoints of scientists, educators, and creationists. (JN)

Explains a new approach by creationists to pass state legislation which supports their philosophy yet sidesteps the issue of separation of church and state by avoiding direct mention of God, the Bible, or Divine Creation. Warns of the ramifications of such legislation to science education and general education. (DC)