April 7, 2004

Americans United investigating in Ohio, Montana

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed freedom-of-information requests with education officials in Ohio and Montana to obtain detailed information about recent decisions to water down the teaching of evolution, according to a press release issued by the religious liberty watchdog group on April 6, 2004.

In Ohio, Americans United is concerned about the State Board of Education's approval of a lesson plan entitled "Critical Analysis of Evolution," saying that evidence indicates that Ohio officials were influenced by religious pressure groups. In Darby, Montana, the group is concerned about the "Objective Origins Policy," which singles out evolution for criticism.

"If officials are changing the public school curriculum to conform to religious dogma, that's clearly unconstitutional," said the Reverend Barry W. Lynn, the executive director of Americans United in the group’s press release. "Sound science education must not be sacrificed on the altar of religious zealotry."