Textbook Committees

 

Defeating an attempt by state education boards to modify the content of textbooks, or to approve the use of openly creationist textbooks like Of Pandas and People, takes a very large and well-organized statewide group. The creationists, with their extensive ties to the Christian Right and to local and state Republican Party organizations, possess the financial resources and the political clout to accomplish their tasks, while most creationist-fighters do not.

Thus, the most practical solution is prevention. Creationist watchers must keep a close eye on the composition of state education boards. Ideally, people who are interested in quality education and in keeping the fundamentalists from using the public schools for their sermonizing should constitute the majority of these state boards. In many states, however, this may not be possible, since these board members are usually political appointees. In states where the Christian Right and the Republican Party dominate the political system (and usually each other), it is likely that creationist sympathizers will hold a majority on the state textbook committees.

Thus, the only alternative is to be ready to fight if an effort is made to alter the content of textbooks. Know when the state's textbooks are up for re-approval, and know whether an attempt will be made to influence these texts (some information sources located within the creationist groups can help here). If there are public hearings held on textbook selection, make sure that a number of witnesses show up to testify about the religious aims of the creationist movement and their complete lack of scientific respectability. Turn on the publicity outlets too--letters to the editor, postcards to the members of the state board, and letters to state assemblymen will increase the pressure on these textbook committees and force them to recognize that they will not be able to introduce their religious crusade into the schools quietly, as they would like. A gentle reminder or two of the massive legal problems that will result from the adoption of openly creationist textbooks will also have the desired effect.

If this fails, and creationist textbooks are actually adopted and approved, then legal action becomes necessary. There are several legal precedents for removal of such texts on the grounds that they violate the Establishment Clause by granting government support to a particular set of religious beliefs. Usually, the mainstream religious denominations will be most eager to support such a legal effort, since they understand better than anyone the dangers of allowing the state to interfere in religious matters to the benefit of one particular sect. If a legal fight over textbook adoption becomes necessary, then the local clergy and the ACLU is the place to go.