Teacher Who Called Creationism Religious, Superstitious Nonsense Loses His Case

Check out this forward-thinking decision: a court ruled today that a public school teacher who casually dissed creationism during a discussion of European history has been found to have violated a student's First Amendment rights. How did a teacher exercising his First Amendment right to offer an opinion impair someone else's First Amendment rights?

You've already guessed correctly, we're sure.

[Student Chad] Farnan sued in U.S. District Court in 2007, alleging that [James] Corbett violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment by making repeated comments in class that were hostile to Christian beliefs.

The lawsuit cited more than 20 statements made by Corbett during one day of class, all of which were recorded by Farnan, to support allegations of a broader teaching method that "favors irreligion over religion" and made Christian students feel uncomfortable.

During the course of the litigation, the judge found that most of the statements cited in the court papers did not violate the First Amendment because they did not refer directly to religion or were appropriate in the context of the classroom lecture.

But Selna ruled Friday that one comment, where Corbett referred to creationism as "religious, superstitious nonsense," did violate Farnan's constitutional rights.

Remember, you might make Christians uncomfortable by calling a stupid belief in stupid creationism "stupid." You will also get sued (and lose) on the grounds that you are not allowed to have freedom of religion if your religion (atheism, say) violates someone else's freedom of religion. It makes sense on paper, but the Irony Police are banging their heads on their desks and Charles Darwin is rolling over in his grave, as he has done every day for the past century or two...

Via Fox News.

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Comments ( 11 )

May 11 09 at 3:49 pm

Johnny_Utah909

Look, I'm an atheist who considers the whole thing superstitious nonsense as much as the next guy. But the thing is, a public school teacher is acting on behalf of the state, meaning that his speech constitutes state action. A state actor doesn't exactly have a right to free speech when he's acting on behalf of the state. So, while it is ironic, it makes sense on more than just paper.

May 11 09 at 3:58 pm

Anonymous

It might be helpful if you actually learned something about first amendment law before you post. The rule (drastically oversimplified) is that no one in an official position with a school can make comments regarding personal religious beliefs (or regarding anybody else's) in any setting that could be viewed as being an official position. It is the exact same rule the prohibits school prayer, and that should have prevented my daughter's middle school teacher from asking her why it is that Jews don't accept Jesus as savior.

The teacher's comments are a statement of religious belief by a school official in a school setting. Of course it's a violation of the first amendment clause regarding the establishment of a religion, however much I may agree with what the teacher said.

May 11 09 at 8:16 pm

Ok, but if it was a public school teacher who said that evolution was "superstitious nonsense," you would be pissed as hell and calling all Christians idiots (oh wait, you did that).
As a Christian myself (who believes in the theory of Evolution) I continually take offense to your blatant disregard for the right of someone with a different (religious) point of view to express that view. Just because someone thinks something different than you, something that you don't agree with, does not mean that they are wrong. Isn't that one of the principles our country was founded on? For that matter, isn't that the basis of this First Amendment that you're so riled up about?
You have a problem with religious people pushing their beliefs on you and others, but you seem to have no problem pushing your own beliefs onto your readers.
Being a Christian doesn't make me stupid. Does being an Atheist make you an ass?

May 12 09 at 7:29 am

Count me in as one agnostic who's getting pretty sick of Hooksexup's increasing left-wing hate & vitriol.

May 12 09 at 8:58 am

While I agree that the teacher was probably in the wrong in this case, I can't help but wonder where all this other hate is coming from. Brian certainly isn't 'pushing [his] own beliefs onto [his] readers.' If you feel like he is, then by all means stop being one of his readers.

If I hear one more person insinuate that Fairbanks is violating the First Amendment by having a goddamn opinion I'm going to shit. He's a blogger. He's supposed to have opinions. If someone disagrees with him he has every right to use Scanner to voice his opinion and you have every right to stop fucking reading it. Get off your high horses, folks.

May 12 09 at 9:04 am

I find it amusing when one person claims that someone's expression is quashing his own expression. "You have NO RIGHT to say that I can't say WHATEVER I WANT WHENEVER I WANT!" Double facepalm indeed.

May 13 09 at 6:11 am

Ro, I think you will find Athiests do not disregard anybody

Nov 16 10 at 9:43 pm

Brennan

How is it a violation of anyone's rights? Is it wrong to teach that the world is in fact round and not flat, and that the Earth revolves around the Sun and not the other way around?

Science is science kiddies. If you don't like facts interfering with your faith, stay out of school.

Nov 17 10 at 4:38 pm

Occams beard trimmer

This will be over turned.

Nov 18 10 at 1:22 pm

None of this makes any sense at all. Stating that creationism is "religious, superstitious nonsense" is simply a fact, not an opinion. Therefore, the teacher was simply doing his job by stating a fact. If a teacher tells you that dinosaurs once roamed the earth and you happen not to believe that because of your religion, then so be it. However, don't sue him simply because you choose to be ignorant because of your 'religion.'

Feb 22 11 at 7:09 pm

Circe Herbivora

I don't think the teacher has a right to berate a child's religious beliefs any more than the teacher has a right to berate a child's LACK of religious beliefs.
You can teach evolution without insulting anybody, I've seen it, so that isn't the point.
I'd agree with the court's decision in this case whether the teacher were referring to Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism or any other religion as superstitious twaddle. a Furthermore, I'd be on the side of an atheist child if the teacher were casually referring to atheists as being arrogant and immoral during their lectures.
I know that at this point in time atheists are still in the much-maligned minority, but someday you might not be. And then it is those who hold religious faith who may need to have their beliefs protected from infringements of the state. You have to look at the bigger picture here, really.