[spinestein]

[...many school teachers are using biology class to proselytize atheism. ...what they teach is, "Here's the fossil record, and that proves not only that there is no God, but that people who think there is a God are drooling Neanderthal idiots."]


That is irresponsible (and unscientific as well) and should not be allowed in science classrooms any more than promoting religious dogma should be allowed.




[Therefore, because it is inevitable that atheists will be using the classroom to proselytize their students, I want at least some mention that there is another, at least equally reputable view.]

I disagree that it is inevitable or unpreventable. I think the vast majority of Americans (myself absolutely included) would support a ban on teachers who rip on religion in science classrooms and just as it's easy to enforce banning religious proselytizing it's should be just as easy to prevent atheist proselytizing. They both would be covered by the first amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...".

[dsc]

"any more than promoting religious dogma should be allowed."

Math class is for math, chemistry class is for chemistry. That said, I don't agree that erecting a "wall" to keep any mention of Christianity (or Atheism) out of the classroom is a good thing.

"I disagree that it is inevitable or unpreventable."

Okay, one can conceive of circumstances under which it would be preventable. However, those are not achievable in America today, as a practical matter.

"just as it's easy to enforce banning religious proselytizing"

It's easy to ban the blatant; the subtle is intractable.

"They both would be covered by the first amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"

Actually, neither is covered by that. That clause only prevents the US Congress from passing a law selecting one religion as the official religion of the United States. Period.

"or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...".

Surely the free expression of religion includes expressions of religious opinion.