Faculty member at a public school is putting out creationism during class time WOT SHOULD I DO?

Question

"She said the earth was only 6000 years old, and that we didn't come from apes," said my daughter.

I took care of the damage control, and had her watch Carl Sagan's narrated animation of evolution to humans from primordial soup days, but I'm concerned that she's violating the 1st ammendment on my kid.

I think I should take the morning off from work and talk to the superintendent. Any tips, legally? This is in California.

I didn't say teacher - you did. This is a classroom assistant.

If you would, please indicate in your answer whether you have children in publich school. A parent's perspective would be especially valuable.

Answer 1

You MUST be an American. You have the right to be vitimized and offended at every turn.

The teacher did nothing in terms of stating there is one god or even there is a god. Is this even a science teacher, or a teacher with an opinion? Im really curious about that one, because...cant we have opinions in public schools as long as we arent prothetizing to children about Jesus, Mohammed, etc?

EDIT: Ok this makes more sense; but your reaction is a bit alarmist, honestly. Why not ask the teacher about this assistant and ask if what she/he said is within the confines of the states allowance of public opinions made by staff. I agree with whoever stated you probably want to do some reasearch before you potentially ruin someones career. Most likely a college student studying to become a teacher.. Please address the teacher and dont go three levels up to get this assistant in trouble without getting the entire story.

Answer 2

As a teacher, I'd like you to do a few things first before you go to the superintendent. There are few things that anger me more than having people go over my head without even talking to me.

You say it's an assistant. Fine - talk to the classroom teacher first. He/she should be able to handle it.

If you aren't satisfied with how the classroom teacher handles it, then talk to the principal of the school.

If you aren't happy with how the principal handles it, THEN go to the super. If you go to the super first, all that will happen is it will be bucked back down the chain to where you should've started in the first place, except you'll make quite a few people angry in the process.

Also, you shouldn't have to take off work for this. Contact the teacher in the morning before you go to work or in the afternoon when you get off - whichever is most convenient. I can't speak for that teacher, but my students always have my phone number and permission to call me at home with problems. If necessary (and possible), you could handle it that way.

Answer 3

Report it to the local school board..

Contact the ACLU

Addition: When you go in to talk to the school super simply lay out the facts, this is what your daughter reported to you, this is who said it, yadda yadda make sure you have the super open a case investigation start making a paper trail... Demand to countersign the case investigation with the super and get a photocopy of the signed document for your records..

Addition: As to the parents perspective, I have 3 children 2 are now in college they passed through California public schools on the way to college, I also have 1 in 5th grade in a California public school...

As per another persons answer, DO NOT attempt to find people who also heard the comments... Your daughter is a public school student therefore all other possible witnesses will also be students and underage... You now see the problem you can't simply run around asking other peoples children questions such as this...

Ask your daughter to give names of other students she believes heard the comments... Make sure those names are listed on the case investigation papers as possible other witnesses.. .. During the course of the investigation the investigator from the school board will ask the other children in the proper context...

If the school boards actions are not acceptable to you the ACLU has lawyers who will speak with the children not you...

Answer 4

I would make a formal complaint. I don't know the law in California but I'm sure parents who believe in the biblical story of creation would be quick to complain if the teacher told them America was land sitting on the back of a giant turtle even though turtle island is how many native Americans understand the creation of this land.

Morganie - the founding fathers didn't rebel against the church of England, they rebelled against the government of Britain, they made sure of separating church and state in the constitution because they were protecting the country from people like the pilgrim fathers who left England for America as in England they were free to practice their religion but did not have the freedom to impose their views on others. They came to America to build a society where they could enforce their religious views on others. Luckily the founding fathers of America were educated enough and wise enough to see the danger in this.

Answer 5

Well, by both the 1987 Supreme Court ruling, and the more recent Kitzmiller vs Dover School Board....she is breaking the law as a violation of your US constitution.

Do a citizen's arrest??? LOL

FYI. The rest of the civilized world is laughing at the state of the US educational system that there is still even a DISCUSSION of teaching creationism in school. Creationism or Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory, it is religious belief.

Answer 6

people fail to comprehend what a scientific thought fairly is: As utilized in technological information, a thought is a proof or style in accordance with remark, experimentation, and reasoning, extraordinarily one that has been examined and shown as a typical thought helping to describe and assume organic phenomena. in the previous a thought is given any credence interior the scientific community, it may well be subjected to "peer evaluate." this means that the proposed thought could be printed in a valid scientific mag with the intention to furnish the possibility for different scientists to evaluate the suitable authentic coaching and attempt to replicate any experimental approaches in touch. Creationists refuse to concern their "theories" to look comments, by using fact they know they don't greater healthful the info. The creationist attitude is distorted by ability of the assumption of "good technological information" (creationism) vs. "undesirable technological information" (something not in contract with creationism). introduction "scientists" are biblical fundamentalists who can not settle for something opposite to their sectarian non secular ideals. Creationism isn't a thought

Answer 7

First you have to get statements from people who witnessed this, and not just your daughter. Then if the school superintendent doesn't take action and fire her. You should get a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the school.

Answer 8

Call up the school district and have a nice chat. Since this is California, she'll probably have a day or so to get her stuff out of her office.

Answer 9

Complain to the principal. If they don't do something about it, go to the schoolboard. If they do nothing, threaten to get the media involved. That should get their attention. And you should call Sean Hannity. He has people call in all the time about that kinda thing.

Edit:

To Freebird- there is no mention of separating church and state in the Constitution. Look it up.

Answer 10

Sounds like your school needs a better teachers aid screening process.

If you live in Tennessee, complain to the school principal, school board, and state board of education.