In your efforts to improve school programs, things may get thorny, and the real price will be paid by the students. From the infamous Scopes “monkey” trial of 1925 to contemporary controversies, the law has been no stranger to SMT education. Evolution controversies still sprout up all over the country, but there are also negotiations with teacher unions, privacy issues, and concerns about the use of technology in the classroom. In each case, the best policy is to establish solid habits of community engagement before problems even start. As program ideas develop, think broadly about what groups or individuals might raise concerns and make sure they are invested in the programs’ success. Throughout, utilize your district’s legal advisors to anticipate what difficulties might be on the horizon and try to prevent them early on.

• What are some of the SMT-related legal issues that U.S. school districts have faced?
• How does the U.S. legal system view religiously motivated objections to SMT education?
  

What are some of the SMT-related legal issues that U.S. school districts have faced?

• NSBA’s online resources addressing the legal issues related to the use of technology in K-12 schools.
• NSBA’s online resources addressing the legal issues related to K-12 curricula.
• NSBA’s online resources addressing the legal issues related to K-12 employment and labor.
• Two position statements from the National Association of Science Teachers relating to laboratory safety, one on liability the other on safety.

How does the U.S. legal system view religiously motivated objections to SMT education?

• Henry Green, pastor of the Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, MD, discusses the separation of church and state as it applies to teaching science in public schools.  [VIDEO]