Separation of Church and State

Today on this date in 1925, the Tennessee passed the Butler Act, forbidding state funded schools from teaching evolution. This law lead to the Scopes trial, which pitted Clarence Darrow against William Jennings Bryant.

This week, the Texas School Board voted to ban from its curriculum any teaching of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

Here is the whole of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Today's entry deals with naturalization ceremonies for the LA District (including Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside). To find out when the next ceremony is, click here

today's site...who's your rep?

first go here

once you know what your zip code + 4 number is, go here

type your number + 4 into the boxes on the left of the page and hit go. The name of your representative will come up...go to your rep's page for more information about your district.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some sites for today:

We are going to hear a shortened version of King's I Have A Dream speech. Soon after you will be asked to go here to fill in a short passage from the speech.

Go here for a short reading about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

When you have finished the reading, complete the crossword puzzle with a partner.