School Officials' Reprisal Over Science Policy Nets Them a Lawsuit
by Allie Martin
March 31, 2005
(AgapePress) - A California-based legal defense organization has joined a federal lawsuit filed by a parent who proposed a more objective policy for teaching evolution in the classroom.More than a year ago, Larry Caldwell approached officials of the Roseville School District and proposed a Quality Science Education Policy. That policy states that because scientific theories are constantly subject to change, they should not be taught dogmatically. But Caldwell says since his proposal, school administrators have launched an aggressive, mean-spirited campaign against him.
In response, Caldwell filed a lawsuit to protect the rights of all parents to be involved in their children's education and in curriculum decisions. Brad Dacus is president of the Pacific Justice Institute, which recently joined the lawsuit. Dacus says school officials must comply with the law.
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Brad Dacus |
"If school districts are able to get away with simply turning a deaf ear on citizens who have constructive, positive recommendations for improvement of education -- if school districts only decide to listen to the teachers unions and are able to muffle everyone else -- then we will have a public school system that is even further away from being a public school district system versus one that's simply controlled by the elite union few," the attorney contends.According to Dacus, Caldwell -- who happens to be an attorney himself -- faced intense opposition and unlawful tactics from school administrators.
"This school board decided not to even hear his matter, to deny him the due process that used to be afforded as a citizen of that community," he explains. "We hope that this school district will see the light and decide to give due consideration, pursuant to the law, to citizens who make these kinds of requests."
Caldwell says school officials have attacked his personal religious beliefs, and even threatened to sue him to stop him from speaking out. That response is strange, says Dacus, because Caldwell's proposal is endorsed by respected scientists -- and is derived from the "California State Board of Education Policy on the Teaching of Natural Sciences."
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
