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Teacher has right to hold creationism view, but not to teach it in science class.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today applauded a Washington County high school principal who ordered a biology teacher to stop distributing a homemade publication touting creationism to his students.
"Creationism is not biology and has no place in a biology class," said Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia. "What makes this wrong is not the idea of creationism, which is based on faith, but the teaching of creationism as part of a science class.”
At the beginning of each school term for the last 15 years, biology teacher Larry Booher has given a 500-page “source book” on creationism to each of his students at John S. Battle High School. Although the book, which Booher prepares and pays for himself, has been given to more than 1,000 students over the years, the principal of the school claims to have not known about it until now.
“Obviously, we are concerned that this went on for 15 years without detection,” added Willis. “But we are satisfied that the matter has been taken care of now, and we commend the principal for his swift and decisive action once he was aware of the activity.”
The ACLU warned the school not to go so far as to prevent Booher from advocating creationism during non-school time.
“It is important to note that while Mr. Booher is not permitted to distribute faith-based literature to his students or to teach faith-based lessons as part of a science class, the school should not interfere with his right to hold his views on creationism or to advocate those views outside the school setting.” said Willis.
“Mr. Booher has the same right as any other citizen to practice and preach his faith, but he may not take unfair advantage of his position as a public school teacher to impose his religious beliefs on students.”
Willis also said that there may be a place for creationism in public schools, but only as part of a comparative religion class in which students are taught how various faiths view the origin of the world. Most public schools do not offer such classes.
Contact: Kent Willis, Executive Director, ACLU of Virginia, 804-644-8022