There's the problem. To you religion is "basic Christianity," but to countless others is may be something different. Do they get a voice also? How about this story? Would you have it taught as well?
Long ago, before there were any people, the world was young and water covered everything. The earth was a great island floating above the seas, suspended by four rawhide ropes representing the four sacred directions. It hung down from the crystal sky. There were no people, but the animals lived in a home above the rainbow. Needing space, they sent Water Beetle to search for room under the seas. Water Beetle dove deep and brought up mud that spread quickly, turning into land that was flat and too soft and wet for the animals to live on.Grandfather Buzzard was sent to see if the land had hardened. When he flew over the earth, he found the mud had become solid; he flapped in for a closer look. The wind from his wings created valleys and mountains, and that is why the Cherokee territory has so many mountains today.
As the earth stiffened, the animals came down from the rainbow. It was still dark. They needed light, so they pulled the sun out from behind the rainbow, but it was too bright and hot. A solution was urgently needed. The shamans were told to place the sun higher in the sky. A path was made for it to travel--from east to west--so that all inhabitants could share in the light.
The plants were placed upon the earth. The Creator told the plants and animals to stay awake for seven days and seven nights. Only a few animals managed to do so, including the owls and mountain lions, and they were rewarded with the power to see in the dark. Among the plants, only the cedars, spruces, and pines remained awake. The Creator told these plants that they would keep their hair during the winter, while the other plants would lose theirs.
People were created last. The women were able to have babies every seven days. They reproduced so quickly that the Creator feared the world would soon become too crowded. So after that the women could have only one child per year, and it has been that way ever since.
"To you religion is "basic Christianity," but to countless others is may be something different. Do they get a voice also? How about this story? Would you have it taught as well?"
Um, its not countless ... it's an asterisk in the polling data. Either you are Christian (near 80%, part nominal, part faithful), Jewish (4%), Muslim (near 1%), or you are some obsure new-age type (*%) or a self declared atheist (15%).
Yes, it is 'countless' the number who believe in the Cherokee creation story. You cant count past zero.
Its archeology, not philosophy, where that belongs.
Nevertheless, your question was answered by me already in another comment. The answer is simple: PARENTAL CHOICE. Just make the RE voluntary.
It's a silly rule to insist on 'balance' as opposed to recognizing that the real issue is one of voluntary participation to being with. Besides, since most of this country is Christian, a 'balanced' curricula overemphasizes the obsure other religions that we mostly dont belong to...
Much better options would be avialable if interfering judges would get out of the way and we understood that the constitution demands "free excercise" and non-establishment:
1. Religion can be taught but made voluntary. Parents could decide if their children need to attend.
Local churches, synagogues, etc. could teach RE by coming to schools. This could easily be done as an 'after school' club-type activity. (such
2. School choice and school vouchers, which has been proven to improve educational quality while keeping costs in line.
So, if some parents wants story X taught, whether it is Baptists or the cult of the Wiccan MJ medicine man, let the parents have the choice for their child. I trust in freedom.
What I object to is the silliness of insisting on some lame Cherokee Creation story as 'balance' and as important to a child's education when Cherokee thinking didnt give rise to Western civilization, but Christian and Greek philosophy did. I dont see any reason that one could or should object to philosophy of Christian orientation being taught. One would have to be quite narrow-minded to be offended by Thomas Aquinas. Quality is more important than equality.
However, if the 11th Circuit overturns the trial judge in Cobb, the 11th and 6th circuits will be in tension because the 6th upheld the ruling against a similar disclaimer in Freiler. Since Scalia, Thomas and Rehnquist are on record recommending summary judgement overturning the 6th circuit in a dissent in denial of cert, it would appear almost certain that SCOTUS will have to give some guidance here.
And then the game is on.