schools Archives - American Atheists https://www.atheists.org/tag/schools/ Protecting the absolute separation of religion from government. Tue, 20 Apr 2021 16:41:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 125490277 Oppose Christian Nationalist Curriculum in Florida Public Schools! https://www.atheists.org/2021/04/christian-nationalist-curriculum-florida-public-schools-action-alert/ Tue, 20 Apr 2021 16:36:04 +0000 https://www.atheists.org/?p=28867 The Florida Department of Education is moving forward with new curriculum standards that would indoctrinate students with a false Christian nationalist version of history. But it is not too late to oppose these new standards — please take action today! The proposed education standards include: SS.7.C.1.12, which would require 7th graders to “recognize how Judeo-Christian values influenced America’s founding ideals and documents.” Students would be required to learn about the Ten Commandments, ‘the Protestant work ethic,’ and various supposedly ‘Judeo-Christian’ values. SS.912.C.1.5, which would require 9th graders to “analyze the influence of Judeo-Christian values on America’s founding ideals and documents.” Specifically, students would be taught that core principles of American governance, such as limited government and separation of powers are actually ‘Judeo-Christian’ values. This religious propaganda has no place in Florida’s public schools. Tell the Department of Education to remove these sections from the proposed curriculum standards! This insertion of religious ideology into public schools is part of an effort by Christian nationalists to rewrite American history so that it favors their agenda. These standards aim to undermine the separation of religion and government and spread a false narrative that America was founded as a Christian nation. Together, however, we can tell the Florida Department of Education that this is not acceptable. We need to send as many letters opposing these curriculum changes as possible to the Department by April 23rd. Please take action today and send this to everyone you know!

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]]> 28867 Creationist Encourages Kentucky Schools to Violate Constitution After Atheist Advisory Letter https://www.atheists.org/2018/09/ken-ham-response/ Mon, 10 Sep 2018 16:12:09 +0000 https://www.atheists.org/?p=8541 Grant County, KY—In response to a letter from American Atheists reminding Kentucky schools of their obligations under the constitution to maintain religious neutrality, creationist and Answers in Genesis president Ken Ham has responded by urging schools to violate the constitutional rights of students. Earlier this month, American Atheists Kentucky State Director Johnny Pike, sent advisory letters to all Kentucky schools that advised them of common constitutional issues and incidents that occur in public school classrooms and events. Ham, as president of Answers in Genesis, runs the Ark Encounter, a creationist attraction that features a representation of Noah’s Ark and is associated with the so-called Creation “Museum.” The Ark Encounter is located in Grant County, Kentucky, and has attempted to portray itself as an acceptable educational field trip for public school students. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that creationism, and a rebranded version of creationism called “intelligent design,” are unconstitutional violations of the Establishment Clause. Ham responded to the letter from American Atheists by suggesting that teachers should violate the constitutional rights of students by leading trips to his attractions which offer no educational value and are instead filled with religious propaganda. “The letter we sent to Kentucky schools was intended to inform schools about their obligations under the constitution to protect the rights of students,” said Pike. “It is important that administrators know what is permitted under the law to ensure that valuable school resources are not being wasted on litigating the already-clear legal principle of government neutrality on religious matters.” “Public schools exist to do one thing: prepare students for the future. Religious propaganda of the sort Ken Ham peddles has no place in Kentucky classrooms,” added Pike.

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