NLR asked to not teach creationism

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas on Tuesday called on the North Little Rock School District to stop teaching creationism in its schools, citing a recent instance at Lakewood Middle School where the subject was interjected into World History lessons.

The creationism issue was addressed in a way that introduced doubt about evolution, Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a news release announcing the organization’s warning.

“A public school teaching religion is a violation of parents’ fundamental rights to decide and control the religious upbringing of their children,” Sklar wrote. “It also hinders the scientific education of our students, which we should be doing everything to foster and improve.”

North Little Rock Superintendent Kelly Rodgers said later in the day that he and his staff members had addressed the ACLU’s concern.

“District administrators have investigated and found that the inappropriate classroom treatment of creationism was an isolated incident,” Rodgers said.

“This incident occurred for one day in one class period,” he said. “Administrators will receive additional training during a staff meeting next week, and teachers will receive more in-depth training during their next professional development day. The district is confident these steps, as well as ongoing monitoring, will ensure full compliance with the law, and will fully address the concerns of the ACLU.”

The North Little Rock district has a standing policy on how to address religious subject matter in its schools. That policy in part requires each school to be neutral in matters regarding religion and not engage in any activity that either advocates or disparages religion.

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 02/27/2014

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