McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education Judgement Flashcards
What was the decision of the U.S. District Court in McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education?
Judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiffs and against the defendants.
The court granted the relief prayed for on January 5, 1982.
What is Act 590 of 1981 known as?
Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act.
This Act mandated public schools in Arkansas to give balanced treatment to creation-science and evolution-science.
What were the three grounds on which Act 590 was challenged?
- Establishment of religion prohibited by the First Amendment
- Violation of academic freedom under the Free Speech Clause
- Vague law violating the Due Process Clause
These challenges were made by a group of plaintiffs that included religious leaders and educators.
Who were some of the individual plaintiffs in the case?
- Resident Arkansas Bishops of various churches
- A high school biology teacher
- Parents of children attending public schools
- Arkansas taxpayers
Organizational plaintiffs included various educational and religious groups.
Who were the defendants in McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education?
- Arkansas Board of Education
- Director of the Department of Education
- State Textbooks and Instructional Materials Selecting Committee
The Pulaski County Special School District was voluntarily dismissed from the case.
What does the Establishment Clause prohibit?
Neither a state nor the Federal Government can establish a church, aid one religion, or force individuals to attend church.
This was articulated by Justice Black in Everson v. Board of Education.
What are the three parts of the test established in Lemon v. Kurtzman to evaluate laws under the Establishment Clause?
- Secular legislative purpose
- Primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion
- No excessive government entanglement with religion
Failure on any of these grounds renders a statute unconstitutional.
What movement began in the nineteenth century as a response to social changes and Darwinism?
Fundamentalism.
Fundamentalists viewed these developments as attacks on the Bible and traditional values.
What was the main focus of Fundamentalists after World War I?
The promotion of statutes prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools.
This was a reaction to perceived declines in traditional morality.
What is ‘scientific creationism’ and when did the term gain currency?
‘Scientific creationism’ refers to the belief that the Book of Genesis is supported by scientific data, gaining currency around 1965.
This followed the publication of The Genesis Flood by Whitcomb and Morris.
Which organization is considered the leading creationist organization?
Institute for Creation Research (ICR).
ICR is affiliated with Christian Heritage College and produces creation science materials.
What do creationists believe about evolution?
They view evolution as a source of society’s ills and believe it is anti-Biblical and unscientific.
This perspective is expressed in the writings of creationist authors.
What did Henry Morris state about harmonizing the Bible with evolution?
It is impossible to devise a legitimate means of harmonizing the Bible with evolution.
This reflects the dualistic approach of creationists regarding origins.
Fill in the blank: The introduction of creation science into public schools is considered part of the creationists’ _______.
ministry.
Creationists view this as an integral part of their religious mission.
Who drafted the model act that became Act 590?
Paul Ellwanger.
He collected legislative proposals and prepared a model act for balanced treatment of creationism and evolution.
True or False: Paul Ellwanger believes that creation science qualifies as a scientific theory.
False.
Ellwanger has stated that neither evolution nor creation can qualify as a scientific theory.
What does Act 590 relate to?
It relates to the teaching of creation-science and evolution-science in public schools.
How does Ellwanger characterize the conflict surrounding Act 590?
As a battle between God and anti-God forces.
What does Ellwanger suggest regarding grassroots leaders for the bill?
Opt for non-ministerial leaders to avoid public scrutiny.
True or False: Ellwanger believes that mixing creation-science with creation-religion is beneficial.
False.
What was Ellwanger’s strategy for implementing Act 590?
To play on emotions and exploit the Christian community’s potential for action.
What is the ultimate goal expressed by Ellwanger in his correspondence?
To kill evolution rather than engage in debates.
Who was the chairman of the Greater Little Rock Evangelical Fellowship that received Ellwanger’s model act?
The Reverend W. A. Blount.
What was the role of Senator James L. Holsted in relation to Act 590?
He introduced the act in the Arkansas Senate.
What was the nature of the hearings for Act 590 in the Arkansas Legislature?
They were perfunctory with no significant debate or scientific testimony.
What was the legislative finding of fact in Act 590?
It was identical to Ellwanger’s model act with no meaningful fact-finding.
What historical context motivated the opposition to evolution in Arkansas?
Fundamentalist beliefs in the inerrancy of the Book of Genesis.
What does Section 4(a) of Act 590 define?
Creation-science.
Fill in the blank: ‘Creation-science’ includes the scientific evidences for creation and inferences from those _______.
[scientific evidences].
What is a key difference between ‘creation-science’ and ‘evolution-science’ as defined in Act 590?
Creation-science is based on a sudden creation from nothing; evolution-science involves naturalistic processes.
What does the definition of ‘creation-science’ in Act 590 link to?
The first 11 chapters of the Book of Genesis.
True or False: The definitions in Act 590 are neutral and do not convey any religious viewpoint.
False.
What did Dr. Langdon Gilkey note about the concept of creation out of nothing?
It refers to a supernatural creation performed by God.
What is the legal implication of the evidence surrounding Act 590?
It suggests the advancement of particular religious beliefs.
According to the court, what is necessary to consider in determining the legislative purpose of a statute?
Historical context, sequence of events, and statements by sponsors.
What is the two-model approach espoused by the Institute for Creation Research?
It presents a dualism of creation by a creator or evolution as the sole explanations for origins.
Fill in the blank: The approach to teaching ‘creation science’ and ‘evolution-science’ in Act 590 is taken almost ______ from ICR writings.
[verbatim].
What is the two-model approach espoused by creationists?
It posits that there are only two explanations for the origins of life: creation by a creator or evolution without a creator.
True or False: The scientific community considers the origins of life to be a part of evolutionary theory.
False
What are the essential characteristics of science?
- Guided by natural law
- Explanatory by reference to natural law
- Testable against the empirical world
- Conclusions are tentative
- Falsifiable
What does Section 4(a)(1) assert about creation?
It asserts a sudden creation ‘from nothing.’
Fill in the blank: Creation science fails to meet the essential characteristics of science because it relies on _______.
supernatural intervention
What is the significance of the term ‘kinds’ as used in Section 4(b)?
It is not a scientific term and has no fixed meaning.
What did Drs. Ayala and Gould testify regarding mutation and natural selection?
They stated that these processes do not account for all significant evolutionary change.
What does Section 4(a)(5) refer to regarding geology?
It refers to the explanation of the earth’s geology by catastrophism, including a worldwide flood.
True or False: The concept of a worldwide flood as an explanation for geology is supported by natural law.
False
What was the conclusion of the committee of science teachers regarding creation science?
They concluded that creationism is not science; it is religion.
What does Section 4(a)(6) imply about the age of the earth?
It implies a relatively recent inception of the earth, placing its age between 6,000 and 20,000 years.
Fill in the blank: The methodology employed by creationists is often described as _______.
dogmatic and absolutist
What is the primary argument made by defendants in support of creation science?
They argue that evidence criticizing evolutionary theory supports creation science.
What is Robert Gentry’s discovery related to creation science?
Radioactive polonium haloes in granite and coalified woods.
What did Marianne Wilson conclude about creationist materials?
She found them unacceptable due to their religious references and reliance on religious beliefs.
True or False: There is a recognized scientific journal that publishes articles on creation science as defined in Section 4(a).
False
What flawed assumption does the two-model approach make about the theories of origins?
It assumes that there are only two theories or ideas about the origins of life.
What does the term ‘falsifiable’ mean in the context of scientific theories?
It means that a theory must be capable of being proven false.
What was the role of the Creation Research Society in relation to creation science?
Its members must believe that the Book of Genesis is ‘historically and scientifically true.’
Fill in the blank: The creationists’ methods do not take data, weigh it against opposing scientific data, and reach _______.
conclusions
What is adaptive radiation?
The process by which different species evolve from a common ancestor, such as a shrew in the case of a whale, bear, bat, and monkey.
This concept suggests that species adapt to various environments over time.
What erroneous belief is illustrated in the chart on page 17, figure 1.6?
It suggests that man evolved from bacteria to fish to reptile to mammals, specifically indicating that the mammal was a rat.
This is a misrepresentation of evolutionary theory.
What is the definition of ‘creation’ according to the text?
The bringing into being by a supernatural Creator of the basic kinds of plants and animals through sudden, or fiat, creation.
This definition emphasizes a non-evolutionary perspective.
What does the term ‘Special Creation’ refer to?
Creation that cannot be discovered or understood through scientific investigation, as it involves processes not currently operating in the natural universe.
This term is used to distinguish creationist views from evolutionary science.
True or False: The ‘public school edition’ texts written by creationists completely omit Biblical references.
False. They omit references but retain the same content and message.
This indicates an attempt to present creationist views in a secular format.
What is the primary effect of Act 590, according to the court’s conclusion?
The advancement of religion.
This conclusion is significant in light of the Establishment Clause.
What challenge does Act 590 pose to teachers?
It mandates ‘balanced treatment’ for creation science and evolution science, complicating compliance without jeopardizing employment.
The lack of precise definitions in the Act raises concerns about vagueness.
What does ‘balanced treatment’ mean in the context of Act 590?
It refers to the equal presentation of creation science and evolution science in educational settings.
However, the meaning of ‘balanced’ is subjective and varies among individuals.
What is the court’s stance on the argument that evolution is a religion?
The court finds that evolution is not a religion and that teaching it does not violate the Establishment Clause.
This addresses the defendants’ claims regarding free exercise rights.
What are the concerns regarding academic freedom raised by the plaintiffs?
They argue that Act 590 infringes upon teachers’ and students’ academic freedom by imposing state control over curriculum content.
This could lead to the exclusion of important scientific topics.
Fill in the blank: The teaching of evolution is considered the cornerstone of _______.
[modern biology].
Understanding evolution is crucial for a comprehensive science education.
What are the implications of implementing Act 590 for students aiming for higher education?
Students may be deprived of essential scientific knowledge, impacting their education quality in colleges and universities.
This is particularly relevant for pre-professional and professional programs.
What was the outcome of the court’s ruling on Act 590?
An injunction was entered permanently prohibiting enforcement of Act 590.
This ruling emphasizes the separation of church and state in educational contexts.
According to the text, what is the alleged effect of creation science on education?
Creation science has no scientific merit or educational value as science.
This is crucial for understanding its place in public education.
What did the testimony from Dr. Larry Parker suggest about public opinion on creation science?
He indicated that polls show a majority of Americans believe creation science should be taught alongside evolution.
However, public opinion does not dictate constitutional principles.
What does the term ‘inimical’ mean in the context of the influence of evolutionary philosophy?
Harmful or hostile.
This term describes the perceived threat of evolutionary theory to orthodox religious beliefs.
What is the significance of the great Flood described in Genesis?
It was an historical event, worldwide in its extent and effect.
What is the basis for the belief in the necessity of a Savior for all mankind according to the text?
The special creation of Adam and Eve as one man and one woman and their subsequent Fall into sin.
What are the only information areas specifically required by statute to be taught in all Arkansas schools?
- Effects of alcohol and narcotics on the human body
- Conservation of national resources
- Bird Week
- Fire Prevention
- Flag etiquette
Who is Henry Morris and what did he state regarding teaching creationism?
He is a creationist who stated that effective teaching of creationism requires teachers who are both willing and able to teach it.
What was the outcome of Mr. Bird’s application to intervene in the litigation?
The application for intervention was denied by the Court.
What change was made to the model act regarding terminology?
‘Creation science’ was inserted in lieu of ‘creationism’ to avoid perceptions of religious bias.
What did Senator Holsted testify regarding his religious beliefs and the bill he sponsored?
He held a literal interpretation of the Bible and believed the bill presupposed the existence of a divine creator.
True or False: The statute discussed is constitutional under the Supreme Court’s decision in Abbington School District v. Schempp.
False
What is the concept of ‘Biblical catastrophism’ as mentioned in the text?
The Flood of Noah brought about vast changes in the earth’s surface, including vulcanism and mountain building.
What is the approximate age of the earth as suggested by certain interpretations of the Old Testament genealogy?
From 6,000 to 10,000 years.
Fill in the blank: The belief that creation and evolution are mutually exclusive is considered a _______.
[false premise]
What did Dr. Francisco Ayala point out regarding scientists and belief in evolution?
Many working scientists who subscribe to the theory of evolution are devoutly religious.
What was the response of some professors to Ms. Wilson’s plight regarding Section 4(a)?
Some sympathized and tried to help her find scientific materials, while others asked her to leave.
What does the term ‘creation science’ imply in the context of the model act?
It suggests an attempt to present creationism in a non-religious framework.
What was the main concern about the term ‘creationism’ in legislative discussions?
It was perceived as too religious.
What does the term ‘kinds’ refer to in the context of the creationist argument?
It has no fixed scientific meaning and appears repeatedly in Genesis.
What is the significance of the Apostle’s Creed in relation to heresies mentioned in the text?
It was developed in response to heresies that threatened the early Christian church.
Who stated that ‘we do not know how the Creator created’?
Duane Gish
What did Dr. Geisler and Dr. Wickramasinghe state regarding the age of the earth?
Dr. Geisler believes the earth is several billion years old; Dr. Wickramasinghe stated no rational scientist would believe it is less than one million years old.
What was the original purpose of the model act introduced in the South Carolina Legislature?
To promote the teaching of creationism in schools.
What did the joint stipulation of facts indicate regarding specific courses required before high school graduation?
American history and Arkansas history must be completed.
What is the implication of the statement ‘concepts concerning … a supreme being of some sort are manifestly religious’?
Such concepts do not lose their religiosity when presented as philosophy or science.
What was stated about the teaching of creationism in public schools?
It was noted that textbooks prepared for creationism were not suitable for public school use.
