Susan Epperson, a young woman who graduated from Arkansas' school system and then obtained her master's degree in zoology at the University of Illinois, was employed by the Little Rock school system in the fall of 1964 to teach 10th grade biology at Central High School. In its analysis the court concluded that the statute sought to prevent public school teachers from presenting evolution because it was contrary to the belief of a particular religious group—one that thought the Bible’s book of Genesis should be the only source of information as to the origins of humankind. The theory of evolution, developed by Charles Darwin in the mid-nineteenth century, has created a problem regarding freedom of religion in the United States. The decision of the Arkansas Supreme Court is reversed. The Court held the statute to be an unconstitutional attempt to advance a particular religious viewpoint: u000bu000b Epperson won the case in the lower court, but lost on appeal in the State Supreme Court. Such motivation does not comport with religious neutrality. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Background of Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) Teacher Susan Epperson was hired to teach Science to High School Students; in accordance to Arkansas legislature with regard to the instruction of evolution, she abstained from including the … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer. Epperson, a public school teacher, sued, claiming the law violated her First Amendment right to free speech as well as the Establishment Clause. Written and curated by real attorneys at … Does a law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools violate the Constitution? The Epperson vs. Arkansas case involved a 10th grade biology teacher, Susan Epperson, who in 1965 challenged an antievolution law in the State of Arkansas. She finally won the case on November 12, 1968 when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Arkansas law violated the … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. According to the Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, about its article titled 294 EPPERSON v.ARKANSAS 393 U.S. 97 (1968) Arkansas prohibited the teaching in its public schools “that mankind ascended or descended from a lower order of animals.” The Court held that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits a state from requiring, in the words of the majority opinion, 'that teaching and learning must be … Epperson v. ArkansasBy: Dan KopecShould human evolution be taught in public schools?1928 Arkansas Statute stated that it is unlawful for any teacher to teach the theory of doctrine that mankind ascended or descended from a lower order of animals or in other words the theory of evolution, breaking this law is punishable by fine and dimissalA teacher (Susan Epperson) in … The Federal and State governments, under the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, must remain neutral towards all religions and the belief in non-religion. The State Chancery Court ruled that it violated her free speech rights; … The Arkansas statute was an adaption of the famous Tennessee 'monkey law' which that State adopted in 1925. The case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on October 16, 1968. Epperson v. Arkansas is a significant case because it puts to rest, in constitutional terms, the issue raised by the famous Scopes “monkey trial” decades before this case was decided, namely that teaching evolution cannot be excluded from public school. Argued October 16, 1968. APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS Syllabus. Following is the case brief for Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968), The State of Arkansas passed a law in 1928 that prohibited the teaching of the theory of evolution in schools. The Arkansas legislature passed a law prohibiting teachers in public or state-supported schools from teaching, or using textbooks that teach, human evolution. Until 1965 the science textbooks used in the school system of Little Rock, Arkansas, did not contain a section on evolution. Get Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968), United States Supreme Court, case facts, key issues, and holdings and reasonings online today. Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968), was a United States Supreme Court case that invalidated an Arkansas statute that prohibited the teaching of human evolution in the public schools. Evolution teaches that all living creatures, including humans, evolved, that is, descended, from lower species of life. Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968) Epperson v. Arkansas. Here, Justice John Harlan pointed out a clear Establishment Clause violation but Justice Brennan thought Harlan would vote to affirm (meaning in favor of the state of Arkansas). The state had a law that banned the teaching of that theory. Epperson v. State of Arkansas, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on November 12, 1968, ruled (9–0) that an Arkansas law barring the teaching of evolution in public schools violated the First Amendment ’s establishment clause, which generally prohibits the government from establishing, advancing, or giving favour to any one religion. Interestingly, the law mirrored the Tennessee law, passed in 1925, which was the basis for the famous Scopes “monkey trial.”. The Supreme Court of Arkansas, however, reversed the decision, holding that it was within the state’s authority to specify public schools’ curriculum. A statute that prohibits the teaching of evolution in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which embraces the First Amendment’s prohibition on the establishment of religion. However, upon the receipt of an updated textbook, she had noticed that the … This theory, found in the Bible'… The Arkansas legislature passed a law prohibiting teachers in public or state-supported schools from teaching, or using textbooks that teach, human evolution. In this case, it is clear that the Arkansas statute was motivated by a desire by Christians, who represent only a portion of the State, to teach only one account of the origin of man set forth in the Book of Genesis, and to block any other account, such as the theory of evolution. A chancery court in Arkansas ruled that the statute violated the Fourteenth Amendment, which safeguards the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and thought from state interference. Corrections? Afraid that she would lose her job and be criminally prosecuted, Epperson sought a, The State trial court held that the law was unconstitutional as abridging. Three years after the Scopes Trial of 1925—in which a teacher was found guilty of violating a Tennessee law that barred the instruction of evolution in that state’s public schools—Arkansas enacted a statute that made it illegal for teachers in state-supported schools or universities “to teach the theory or doctrine that mankind ascended or descended from a lower order of animals” or “to adopt or use…a textbook that teaches” such a theory. The State of Arkansas passed a law in 1928 that made it a criminal offense to teach evolution in public schools. It also might be argued that striking down the law, thereby allowing the teaching of evolution, is also not a religiously neutral act. Susan Epperson, a biology teacher, was confronted with the task of teaching from the new textbook. Epperson, a public school teacher, sued, claiming the law violated her First Amendment right to free speech as well as the Establishment Clause. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Court need not determine whether the 1928 statute is unconstitutionally vague, because the basis for striking down the law under the Establishment Clause basis is clear. Based on the concurring opinions, there were other grounds to find the anti-evolution statute invalid. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Epperson-v-State-of-Arkansas, Cornell University Law School - Legal Information Institute - Epperson V. Arkansas. Epperson, a public school teacher, sued claiming the law violated her right to free speech as well as the Establishment Clause. In Epperson v. State of Arkansas (1968), the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a state law that barred the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution because although the statute obviously did not coerce anyone to support religion or participate in any religious practice, the law was enacted for a singularly religious purpose. For the 1965–66 academic year, however, school administrators adopted a textbook that included information on the theory. The State trial court held that the statute violated the Fourteenth Amendment, which embraces the right to freedom of speech in the First Amendment. This appeal challenges the constitutionality of the 'anti-evolution' statute which the State of Arkansas adopted in 1928 to prohibit the teaching in its public schools and universities of the theory that man evolved from other species of life. v. Varsity Brands, Inc. Yes. Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968), was a United States Supreme Court case that invalidated an Arkansas statute that prohibited the teaching of human evolution in … The statute was a product of the upsurge of 'fundamentalist' religious fervor of the twenties. Epperson v. Arkansas was a case about the teaching of evolution in public schools in Arkansas. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Based on the concurring opinions, there were other grounds to find the anti-evolution statute invalid. It is unclear whether there is even a case or controversy before the Court. The majority should have focused only on the Establishment Clause rationale, and not even discussed vagueness or the freedom of speech issues. The decision of the Arkansas Supreme Court was overturned. Omissions? Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97, was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that invalidated an Arkansas statute prohibiting the teaching of human evolution in the public schools. Epperson v. Arkansas Epperson v. Arkansas 393 U.S. 97 (1968) United States Constitution. Therefore, the law must be struck down as a violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. That court failed to address the other constitutional issues. Updates? The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed in an unclear two-sentence opinion, stating only that the State had the power to specify school curriculum. She feared that she may lose her job and be criminally prosecuted for teaching that chapter. Jefferson said the First Amendment to the Constitution was intended to erect a "wall of separation" between church and state. The previous two questions have no bearing at all on the Supreme Court case, but some believed that was what Susan Epperson was attempting to prove. In Epperson v. Arkansas the U.S. Supreme Court went as far back as to quote Thomas Jefferson. The statute is simply so vague as to be invalid under the Fourteenth Amendment. Finally, the academic freedom the Court supports here may lead a teacher to go beyond his or her job duties, in the name of the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed, holding that the law represents the State’s support of one religion over other points of view in violation of the. Epperson was a biology teacher in the Arkansas public school system who sued the state seeking a declaration that the law violated the First … In 1968, in Epperson v. Arkansas, the United States Supreme Court invalidated a 1928 Arkansas statute that prohibited the teaching of evolution. The Epperson v. Arkansas trial proved to be among the landmark Supreme Court decisions that would have certain questions or considerations based on the application of the United States Constitution. In a two-sentence opinion, the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed, stating only that the State has the power to dictate curriculum in public schools. Epperson v. State of Arkansas, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on November 12, 1968, ruled (9–0) that an Arkansas law barring the teaching of evolution in public schools violated the First Amendment ’s establishment clause, which generally prohibits the government from establishing, advancing, or giving favour to any one religion. The statute made such teaching a criminal offense. Music credit to Steven O'Brianhttps://soundcloud.com/stevenobrien/ She also sought to enjoin the state and school officials from dismissing her for violating the statute. This affects, "The sole reason for the Arkansas law is that a particular religious group considers the evolution theory to conflict with the account of the origin of man set forth in the Book of Genesis" (Wikipedia Epperson v. Arkansas par 3). In making its decision in Epperson, the U.S. Supreme Court was aided by the precedents set in previous freedom of religion cases.

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