Edwards+v.+Aguillard

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The Case Of Edwards v Aguillard

Louisiana's "Creationism Act" forbids the teaching of the theory of evolution in public elementary and secondary schools unless accompanied by instruction in the theory of "creation science." The Act does not require the teaching of either theory unless the other is taught. It defines the theories as "the scientific evidences for [creation or evolution] and inferences from those scientific evidences." Appellees, who include Louisiana parents, teachers, and religious leaders, challenged the Act's constitutionality in Federal District Court, seeking an injunction and declaratory relief. The District Court granted summary judgment to appellees, holding that the Act violated the Establishment Clause of the. The Court of Appeals affirmed. On June 19, 1987 the Supreme Court decided that Louisiana’s creat ionism law was unconstitutional. Their decision was based of the Lemon Test, that says


 * 1) // The government's action must have a legitimate secular purpose; //
 * 2) // The government's action must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion; // and
 * 3) // The government's action must not result in an "excessive entanglement" of the government and religion. //

The ruling had great effect on the American creationist movement. It only affected state schools, with independent schools, home schools, Sunday schools and Christian schools free to still teach creationism. Within two years a creationist textbook had been produced: //Of Pandas and People// which attacked evolutionary biology without mentioning the identity of the supposed "intelligent designer".

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Keep these questions in mind…


 * (These sticky notes are made by the best of the best Abdelhak Belatreche.)**