The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

137 creation science in Freiler v. Tangipahoa Parish Board of Education (1999), which the court in McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education (1982) ruled as a religious theory based on its literal interpretation of the Genesis creation account (Moore, Jensen, & Hatch, 2003, p. 769-770). In accordance with The First Amendment and the Establishment clause, the church and state must remain separate. Furthermore, all government institutions, such as schools, must remain religiously neutral. They cannot participate in any teaching or activity that promotes or inhibits a religion, thus, when religion is taught, it must be done in an objective manner and in appropriate classes (Scott, 2008). Science has been defined as an explanation of “natural phenomena by reference to natural processes.” All scientific theories must be observable and lead to predictions. Scientists should be able to prove any theory or prediction true or false through observable material or events, and they should be able to retest theories. Additionally, science does not involve any supernatural events under any circumstances (Lofaso, 2009). The four items previously mentioned play largely in court decisions regarding the place of these two theories in the classroom. The first big case after the Scopes Trial, Epperson v. Arkansas (1968), took place in Arkansas in response to anti-evolution laws (Armenta & Lane, 2010, p. 77). Apublic school banned the teaching of evolution and the use of textbooks supporting this theory. The US Supreme court found the statute existed to prevent teaching contradictory to the Genesis account of creation. As a result, the court ruled such a statute violates the constitution because the statute promotes a religion and adjusts the curriculum to better suit those practicing the religion (Moore, Jensen, & Hatch, 2003, p. 767). Because states could no longer ban the teaching of evolution, they started making statutes requiring “equal time” or “balanced treatment” for creationism. These statutes, also, found themselves in court. Judge William R. Overton in Mclean v. Arkansas Board of Education and Justice William Brennan in Edwards v. Aguillard judged these statutes as a violation of the First Amendment. Overton found this law promoted a certain religion, namely Christianity. Brennan went further in applying the “Lemon Test” developed in Lemon v. Kirtzman 1971. This test has three parts. Each proposed law cannot fail any of the three sections in order to be considered constitutional. “Any government action must (1) have