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before the end of 10th grade that while

former elementary school to a Roman

most scientists believe that the theory of

Catholic education foundation in what it

evolution is "well supported, a small

called "a sweetheart lease/purchase deal."

minority of scientists do not agree." The

The transaction, the group claimed, violat-

amendment would also have required,

ed the Montana Constitution by using

among other things, that students be

public property to benefit a religious orga-

told that some scientists believe "it is

nization. However, According to Jenda

mathematically impossible for the first

Hemphill, chairwoman of the district

cell to have evolved by itself," and that the

trustees, supporting religion was not the

origin of "sex drive is one of biology's

intent of the discounted sale. Supporting

mysteries."

education was. "One factor for me in

Reacting to Brown's effort, the Las

deciding to sell to the Catholic school was

Vegas Review-Journal noted: "Ongoing

it would remain a school," she said. "I

squabbles over evolution . . . are a pre-

wanted it to remain open to community

dictable outcome of the domination of

use, so the playground would continue to

American primary and secondary educa-

be open space. Those may not have a dol-

tion by tax-funded schools. State schools

lar amount, but they are important val-

ues."149

fall naturally into teaching a standard-

ized curriculum, and some parents will

inevitably object to some part of that

Nebraska

standardized subject matter." Brown

Integration vs. Self-determination

· Omaha--Last year, Nebraska's only black

failed to collect sufficient signatures to

put his initiative on the ballot.151

state senator amended education legisla-

tion so that it split Omaha's school district

along racial lines. His reason: To enable

Religion

· Las Vegas--When a high school valedictori-

Omaha's black community to take charge

of its own education. "My intent is not to

an went off-script and declared that

have an exclusionary system," said Senator

"God's love is so great that he gave his only

Ernie Chambers, "but [one that] we, mean-

son up," school officials pulled the plug

ing black people, whose children make up

on her microphone. In July, that student,

the vast majority of the student popula-

Brittany McComb, filed a lawsuit against

tion, would control." Despite Chambers's

the school district claiming that her rights

intent to give Omaha African Americans

to free speech and equal protection were

control over their own schools, many black

violated. "I wanted to say why I was suc-

leaders in Nebraska disagreed with his

cessful, and what inspired me to keep

efforts. "This is a disaster," Ben Gray, co-

going and what motivated me. It involved

chairman  of  the  African-American

Jesus Christ for me, period," she said. The

Achievement Council, told the New York

district would not comment on the suit,

Times. The legislation ultimately passed,

but Allen Lichtenstein from the ACLU of

and in May the NAACP announced that it

Nevada said that "Proselytizing is improp-

would file a suit against the new law.150

er for a school-sponsored speech at vale-

dictorian graduations."152

Nevada

New Hampshire

Intelligent Design

· Las Vegas--Steve Brown, a Las Vegas

Religion

· Pittsfield--In December, some Pittsfield

masonry contractor, filed an initiative

petition in February aimed at passing an

Middle School students claimed that

amendment to the Nevada constitution

their religious freedom was violated

requiring all schools to tell students

when English teacher Harry Mitchell

39