The legal tests that are applied to the issue of state mandates to provide creation instruction in public schools, and the implications of the mandates, are discussed. This issue is compared with other curriculum mandates and requirements to illustrate the difficulty of the problem. (MSE)

The establishment clause of the First Amendment permits public school instruction that serves secular educational goals, but it forbids instruction that instills religious beliefs in children. Although the free exercise clause protects those who oppose such secular courses, their sole remedy is partial or total exemption from the courses. (MLF)

This article examines the interrelated legal and scientific nature of the creationism controversy. It discusses "McLean vs. Arkansas Board of Education" and analyzes current tactics used by creationists, concluding that they are constitutionally impermissible. An approach is proposed that balances First Amendment interests with the need…

Describes two federal court cases concerning objections to public school textbooks. In "Smith v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County," parents attempted to eliminate objectionable content from textbooks through the Establishment Clause. In "Mozert v. Hawkins County Public Schools," parents wanted to remove children…

Legislation, rulings, and arguments for and against public schools giving creationism equal time or consideration with evolution are discussed. In the 1920's fundamentalists began to promote statutes prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools. Since that time the creationists have sought to supplant evolution with creationism on the…