Blog #2: Can science and religion co-exist in the classroom?

Science and religion often seem on a collision course with regard to intellectual freedom issues. A Pew Research Study indicates that 71% of Americans believe religion has an important place in their lives. At the same time, the nation has become more secular with science and technology playing increasingly significant roles in our society. In a global economy, the US education system faces pressure to compete with other nations in science and math literacy.

An article from a Knoxville, Tenn. newspaper chronicles the debate between evolution and religion. A Knox County parent objected to an advanced biology textbook description of creationism as a "Biblical myth" last December. Subsequently, a school board member filed a motion to ban the textbook from the school's curriculum. After a heated debate, a school review committee comprised of teachers, administrators, a student, and parent decided that the textbook was appropriate.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Establishment Clause forbids the establishment of any religion. The government cannot promote or oppose religious doctrines. Teachers have been given the academic freedom to conduct their classroom for a diverse and pluralistic student population. The court has held that teachers are not required to provide instruction in both creationism and evolution. Disclaimers regarding the theory of evolution as the only explanation of human kind have been found to be unconstitutional

However, the issue is far from settled in the minds of many Americans. Proponents of creationism and intelligent design have renewed their efforts to teach these theories along with or in place of evolution. Challenges to science textbooks in states like Texas and across the country are growing. The conflict has extended to medical treatment where some parents have refused school mandated immunizations for their children on religious grounds.

This raises the question whether science and religion can ever peacefully co-exist in the classroom.

Spanish Piracy

The New York Times recently published an article on the violation of entertainment property rights in Spain. Thirty years after the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Spain emerged relatively new to the concepts of democracy and intellectual freedom compared to other Western European nations. It is estimated that this nation of 43 million is reponsible for 3 billion illegal downloads a year. Author property rights have been offered less protection than the right to privacy and freedom of expression by the Spanish legal system. In 2001, the Spanish music industry ranked 10th in worldwide sales. However, the industry lost $2.2 billion in revenue and nearly a 1/3 of its market share by 2009. During this same period, Spain has risen to fifth in the world in use of social networking sites as Facebook and MySpace.

Hollywood and American music interests have been reluctant to sell creative material within the country. Television series such as "Lost" are quickly pirated on Spanish websites months before they are released for distribution. Sony Pictures has put a halt on DVD sales within the country. The U.S. Trade Department placed Spain on a list of countries that violate intellectual property rights. American artists routinely skip Spain on their performance tours in favor of the United Kingdom and France which are more friendly toward artist property rights.

This article made me realize that intellectual freedom will need to be addressed across international boundaries. Intellectual freedom has been a contentious subject within U.S. libraries leading to the creation of the ALA in the 1930's. In recent years, technology and democracy have broken previous barriers to intellectual expression that were unthinkable in previous decades. We must now find a coherent strategy to navigate intellectual property rights within the legal, artistic, and political framework of the global community.