Edwards v. Aguillard

482 U.S. 578 (1987)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Under Louisiana’s Creationism Act, if either evolution theory or ‘creation science’ is taught, the other must also be taught. The theories of evolution and creation science are statutorily defined as ‘the scientific evidences for (creation or evolution) and inferences from those scientific evidences.’ The Act requires that curriculum guides be developed for creation science but says nothing of such guides for evolution. Research services are supplied for creation science but not for evolution. Only ‘creation scientists’ can serve on the panel that supplies the resource services. The Act forbids school boards to discriminate against anyone who ‘chooses to be a creation-scientist,’ but fails to protect those who teach evolution. The majority states that the same historic and contemporaneous antagonisms between the teachings of certain religious denominations and the teaching of evolution are present in this case. It further states that the legislative history documents that the Act’s primary purpose was to change the science curriculum of public schools in order to provide persuasive advantage to a particular religious doctrine that rejects the factual basis of evolution in its entirety. Appellees, who include parents of children attending Louisiana public schools, Louisiana teachers, and religious leaders, challenged the constitutionality of the Act. The District Court granted summary judgment to appellees, holding that the Creationism Act violated the Establishment Clause, either because it prohibited the teaching of evolution or because it required the teaching of creation science with the purpose of advancing a particular religious doctrine. The Court of Appeals affirmed.