The issue, which was discussed at Thursday night’s board meeting, is part of a larger proposal that would open up a variety of controversial issues for classroom discussion. According to the proposal, “[s]ex education, legalization of drugs, evolution/creation, pro-life/abortion, contraception/abstinence, conservatism/liberalism, politics, gun rights, global warming and climate change and sustainable development” would be considered suitable classroom topics, reports local news outlet WHIO-TV.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sent a letter asking the district to drop the proposal that would “advance creationism in the classroom."
“When public schools teach their preferred religious ideology as fact, it sends a message that the school supports one religion over all others. This threatens the religious freedom of everyone,” ACLU of Ohio staff attorney Drew Dennis said in the letter.
The letter also noted the district's unsuccessful proposal to teach creationism in 2011. That plan was scrapped due to public pressure.
According to the Dayton Daily News, parents who attended the school board meeting urged officials to abandon the new proposal.
“We’re being defined by our issues and not our accomplishments,” said Lynn Greenberg, a local parent who feels the district's attempts to teach creationism distracts from students’ education.
However, school board member Jim Rigano told the outlet that he thought teaching creationism would help the district “ensure we’re not indoctrinating one point of view or another.”
The board will vote on the proposal in early June, reports local outlet WKRC-TV.
Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.com
Author: Rebecca Klein
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