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I just watched a documentary on the so called 'Monkey Trial' on the history channel. You probably remember it as the battle in Tennessee, I think 1924, as to whether or not Evolution should be taught in schools. It was better known as the Scopes trial, John Scopes being the teacher who was charged for teaching evolution after Tennessee had banned it. William Jennings Bryon and Clarence Darrow rode into town in a cloud of dust to fight for the cause. Bryon was against the teaching of evolution and Darrow fought for the ACLU to allow it.In the end Scopes was found guilty and fined 100 dollars. To this day many argue over who won the debate, Bryon or Darrow. Though I don't believe in evolution I would have to give the win to Darrow. Though he seemed to do it by trying to discredit the bible rather then prove evolution was fact (in his defense though the judge would not allow any so called experts to testify). After the trial by 1930 70% of all schools had banned the teaching of Evolution. And thats the way it stayed until 1957 when Russia sent Sputnik into space. They said it gradually began to shift because America thought that if they didn't get with the program the Soviets would get ahead Scientifically. So now were stuck with this Garbage in our schools.
I haven't read much about the trial but those stats you cite are interesting. I know that even in the early 20th Century, Christian concepts of virtue were taught in schools, so the Scopes Monkey Trial must have had some influence on paving the way which changed all that. I'd like to see a comparison of the public education system in American in the early 20th Century compared to modern times. I would like to see how content taught in schools has changed over time, how much money per pupil (adjusted for inflation) has changed over time, and student success rate has changed as well. I'm sure we'd see some rather telling statistics.
They said that at the end of WW1 there were about 200,000 enrolled in high school nationwide and by 1930 there were over 2 million. I believe that the curriculum was no doubt a lot more conservative then, then it is now. I wonder if the liberal turn in the last few decades had anything to do with the comeback of evolution in schools?
Well I know one thing, those parents who do home schooling overwhelmingly seek after books from the 1950's to teach their children. I wonder why? 😉
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