Students wrote these essays in class. They have revised them on their own with minimal help from the teacher.
These essays represent students' written articulation of an argument. They read, researched and discussed an issue that has sparked controversy for over a century: Darwin's Theory of Human Evolution. In these essays, students consider this issue in the context of a cultural and legal debate that has spanned many years.
| Wai Bong |
| Tatyana |
| Monika |
| Tomasz |
| Yan |
Wai Bong, Pang
Imagine that a test case to challenge the law is being
brought before the Kansas Supreme Court and that you are a citizen of the state
of Kansas. If the challenge is successful, the law will be repealed, the
Evolutionists will win and Darwin’s theory will again be taught in all Kansas
schools. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the law will stand, the Creationists
will win and it will remain illegal to teach Darwin’s theory in all Kansas
schools.
Write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of Kansas in which you either support or argue against this law.
Be sure to use ***PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE*** to support your
position. Begin your letter with “Dear
Chief Justice:” Dear Chief Justice, I am a student of Kingsborough Community College. I learn
that there is a case about somebody teaching Darwin’s theory in school. I want
to express my support for the offender who has the right to teach Darwin’s
theory in all schools. The similar situation was happened in 1925 “A Monkey
Trial”. The offender was John Scopes. He taught the Darwin’s theory in public
school. Although, he was found guilty and sentenced to fine $100.00 dollars, he
raised the question to let people thinking critically about this law. I am not going to violate the Bible but some information
inside the Bible may not be correct. For instance, Bible said God created the
world within six days but how can we know the six days represent the period of
time. Bible didn’t mention how long per day and how many hours everyday.
Therefore, we cannot assume the six days in the Bible is equal to our time. Why I believe Darwin’s theory because his theory was based
on the founding of fossils. The fossils provided a lot of evidences for human
evolution. Darwin was based on the fossils and footprint to know how the ape
walking, and also found the fossils of forehead to support the different stage
of evolution. In addition Darwin’s theory is based on the change of skeleton of
ape to support his theory. I think it is more reliable for human evolution. According to the Bible God made people and let them have
brain and their language. Why did God give people the power to think? If we
think more critically, we can assume that God wants people to judge the issues
by themselves. People live in the United States have the right to receive
different point of view. We cannot eliminate the right for the people to
receive some different ideas. The Butler Act was repealed in 1955 in Dayton Tennessee
after 30 years of “A Monkey Trail”. People who lived 30 years ago believed
people should have the right to think, we live in 2001 year should adopt open
mind to think repealed this law. Thank you for your looking. Yours Sincerely, Wai Bong, Pang
Return to the Top of this Page
Tatyana Krichker
Imagine that a test case to challenge the law is being
brought before the Kansas Supreme Court and that you are a citizen of the state
of Kansas. If the challenge is successful, the law will be repealed, the
Evolutionists will win and Darwin’s theory will again be taught in all Kansas
schools. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the law will stand, the Creationists
will win and it will remain illegal to teach Darwin’s theory in all Kansas
schools.
Write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of Kansas in which you either support or argue against this law.
Be sure to use ***PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE*** to support your
position. Begin your letter with “Dear
Chief Justice:” Dear Chief Justice: My name is Tatyana Krichker and I am just a college student. I would like to represent my point of view about a conflict between Religion and the Science of Evolution. I do believe that people should have the right to think. A school should give students a chance to think and scrutinize the theory of the origin of human beings. Our law doesn’t let people know something new about the theory of evolution. Take a look at the new generation. We remember Copernicus and Galileo Galilei, but the awful laws of the inquisition passed them into oblivion. Sir, please, don’t let our law become a gravedigger of new ideas. I think that a lot of people, who are strongly against evolution, have not read the book about that theory. All of us in our city have read the Bible. It is a beautiful book, but we can’t stop thinking about the comparison between the information from the Bible and the reality of life. The Bible says that the sun moves around the earth. We know that is not true. I believe that we shouldn’t take the Bible literally. Moreover, we shouldn’t copy some parts of our law from the Bible. I think that the Bible is the law for human hearts, but human beings should have rules, which let our society move onward in the world. Sir, you have a great opportunity to help people to open their minds. Our law doesn’t let people get information about anthropology, archeology, and Darwin’s theory of evolution. Sir, I would like to read about the theory of evolution. I want to know as much as possible about the evidence of that theory. I can’t do it. I don’t want to break the law. I know that I am not the only one who wants to have the right to think. I believe that our law will be changed sooner or later because even the fire of the inquisition couldn’t stop the minds of the people. The law shouldn’t be against progress. Thank you for your time, Tatyana
Return to the Top of this Page
Monika Flisak
Imagine that a test case to challenge the law is being
brought before the Kansas Supreme Court and that you are a citizen of the state
of Kansas. If the challenge is successful, the law will be repealed, the
Evolutionists will win and Darwin’s theory will again be taught in all Kansas
schools. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the law will stand, the Creationists
will win and it will remain illegal to teach Darwin’s theory in all Kansas
schools.
Write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of Kansas in which you either support or argue against this law.
Be sure to use ***PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE*** to support your
position. Begin your letter with “Dear
Chief Justice:” Dear
Chief Justice: My name is Monika and I’m a citizen of
the state of Kansas. I am writing this letter to you because I want to persuade
and prove that Darwin’s theory is authentic and true and a teacher who was
teaching it in one of the public schools has a right and shouldn’t be accused.
He didn’t do anything wrong; he was just teaching about Darwin’s Theory. I
know that in my state in Kansas this is against the law. However, I believe
that people should know not only about Creation and the Bible; they have to
know also about the opposite side--that means Evolution. This situation is very
similar to the Butler Act of 1925. Almost 76 years ago a teacher, John Scopes,
was teaching about Darwin’s Theory and this was against the law. Now we live in the 21st
century and I think that all civilization and technology is growing very fast.
People are more educated and civilized than before. For this reason, I think that Darwin’s theory should be
described and introduced to everybody. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) believed
that all the life on earth evolved over millions of years from a few common
ancestors. He researched his work in America. In South America Darwin found
fossils of extinct animals that were similar to modern species. His expedition
visited places around the world, and he studied plants and animals. Darwin
proved that evolution did occur and that in evolution change was gradual,
requiring thousands to millions of years. The primary mechanism for evolution
was a process that we call natural selection. Darwin’s theory tells us that the
survival of each organism is determined by that organism’s ability to adapt to
its environment. I believe in this theory that people originated from monkeys
and that this started to happen a few million years ago. I’m so happy that a teacher from my
city showed and explained the truth about evolution to us. A lot of people
don’t know anything about evolution theory because in Kansas we can’t talk about
this subject in school. I think that even if people believe in
Creation and the Bible they should know the opposite side and have information
about Evolution. They
don’t have to believe in this theory, but this theory can extend and expand
their knowledge about Evolution and Darwin’s theory. I think also that a
teacher should not be guilty. We have to change the law and start to teach
about these two different theories of Evolution and Creation. I hope that the judge will be fair and
exculpate this teacher and will change the law so we can study both theories. Thank
you,
Monika
Return to the Top of this Page
Tomasz Kowalewski
Imagine that a test case to challenge the law is being
brought before the Kansas Supreme Court and that you are a citizen of the state
of Kansas. If the challenge is successful, the law will be repealed, the
Evolutionists will win and Darwin’s theory will again be taught in all Kansas
schools. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the law will stand, the Creationists
will win and it will remain illegal to teach Darwin’s theory in all Kansas
schools.
Write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of Kansas in which you either support or argue against this law.
Be sure to use ***PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE*** to support your
position. Begin your letter with “Dear
Chief Justice:” Dear Chief Justice: The state
of Kansas recently passed a law that prohibits the teaching of Darwin’s theory
of evolution in all schools. Why? Do we, the people of a free country not have
a right to think. Do the people in the state Kansas in our homeland where our
children are growing up, where our upcoming generation will live not have the
right to choose what they want to be taught. Controlling
people, telling them what they should be studying is against the law. We are in
the 21st century and by now we should know that we can’t lock people
with the information. Teachers should have power to open the door of knowledge
to students. Both
theories ought to be available to students in all cases. It is up to the individual
whether he or she believes it or not. We students of Kansas have the right to
learn about both theories and then we can choose what we believe in. Everybody
is talking about how education is important in our life that without education
life is harder, our knowledge is limited. The government encourages teenagers
to attend schools, but on the other hand they are controlling their freedom to
think. God gave us brains, and the power to think and we should use it in every
field possible. Even if it is against religion people have right to learn about
it. Seventy-six
years ago a very familiar situation happened when the state of Tennessee passed
the Butler Act prohibiting the teaching of Evolutionary theory in schools. John
Scopes was brought to trial for breaking that law. John Scopes was a science
teacher and he was not able to teach his students because of this unfair law.
He fought the battle of freedom to think. He lost the fight. John Scopes was
found guilty, and fined $200, and he moved out of Tennessee. Since then,
there has been a lot of debate and controversy over the right of states to
control what people can learn. We are humans and nobody has the right to
control our freedom of thinking. Sir, I am a
student and it really doesn’t matter if I am religious or not. Both theories
ought to be available to us. We have brains and the power of thinking and it
won’t hurt us to learn about Creationism and Evolution. Each individual has the
right to choose what he or she believes in.
ESL 91
Spring, 2001Essay Question: The state of Kansas recently adopted a law that
prohibits the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution in all schools. Since
the law’s passage, there has been a lot of debate and controversy over the
right of the state to control what people can learn. Supporters of the law cite
The Butler Act of 1925, which provided the foundation for the Scopes Monkey
Trial in Tennessee. Challengers of the law cite the arguments that Clarence
Darrow made in that case, which called upon the state to recognize citizens’
right to think.
Spring, 2001Essay Question: The state of Kansas recently adopted a law that
prohibits the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution in all schools. Since
the law’s passage, there has been a lot of debate and controversy over the
right of the state to control what people can learn. Supporters of the law cite
The Butler Act of 1925, which provided the foundation for the Scopes Monkey
Trial in Tennessee. Challengers of the law cite the arguments that Clarence
Darrow made in that case, which called upon the state to recognize citizens’
right to think.
ESL 01
Spring, 2001
Essay Question: The state of Kansas recently adopted a law that
prohibits the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution in all schools. Since
the law’s passage, there has been a lot of debate and controversy over the
right of the state to control what people can learn. Supporters of the law cite
The Butler Act of 1925, which provided the foundation for the Scopes Monkey
Trial in Tennessee. Challengers of the law cite the arguments that Clarence
Darrow made in that case, which called upon the state to recognize citizens’
right to think.
ESL 91
Spring 2001Essay Question: The state of Kansas recently adopted a law that
prohibits the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution in all schools. Since
the law’s passage, there has been a lot of debate and controversy over the
right of the state to control what people can learn. Supporters of the law cite
The Butler Act of 1925, which provided the foundation for the Scopes Monkey
Trial in Tennessee. Challengers of the law cite the arguments that Clarence
Darrow made in that case, which called upon the state to recognize citizens’
right to think.
Tomasz Kowalewski
Return to the Top of this page
Yan Zheng
ESL 91
Spring, 2001
Imagine that a test case to challenge the law is being
brought before the Kansas Supreme Court and that you are a citizen of the state
of Kansas. If the challenge is successful, the law will be repealed, the
Evolutionists will win and Darwin’s theory will again be taught in all Kansas
schools. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the law will stand, the Creationists
will win and it will remain illegal to teach Darwin’s theory in all Kansas
schools.
Write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of Kansas in which you either support or argue against this law.
Be sure to use ***PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE*** to support your
position. Begin your letter with “Dear
Chief Justice:”Essay Question: The state of Kansas recently adopted a law that
prohibits the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution in all schools. Since
the law’s passage, there has been a lot of debate and controversy over the
right of the state to control what people can learn. Supporters of the law cite
The Butler Act of 1925, which provided the foundation for the Scopes Monkey
Trial in Tennessee. Challengers of the law cite the arguments that Clarence
Darrow made in that case, which called upon the state to recognize citizens’
right to think.
Dear Chief Justice:
On behalf of Kansas’
citizens, I would like the public schools to teach Darwin’s theory. School is a
place that allows us to learn knowledge and to be educated. We have to respect
what the scientists’ research. We have to let students themselves judge what’s
wrong or right. Teachers have responsibilities to give students the space to
know and to understand various areas of study.
According to the Bible, our world was
created in six days about two thousand years ago, and our first ancestors are
Adam and Eve. Even though we all agree with that, we still have more questions.
We know our history has lasted more than two thousand years, because the
fossils have shown us the evidence. Without any proof, the Bible said Eve came
from a bone, which was taken from Adam. There is no such thing in the world
like that. The Bible doesn’t mention all the new inventions, such as
electricity, transportation tools and operating systems, which were made by
people using their own theories. If there are questions unclear about the bible
should we really rely on it?
Darwin’s theory was
created by steps of proof, from the fossils he found to the research of human
behavior. He made the assumption that humans evolved from apes. In the real
world we judge everything according to if it has enough evidence to be proved.
Darwin used the scientific method to bring us a basic idea of how humans
developed. If Darwin is true, why don’t we learn his theory? We all have bright
minds. We could think and imagine. If not, the world is going to stay like old
days and never progress.
At last, I would just
like you to accept the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution. We should
learn as much as we can. We have good sense to judge right and wrong. Teachers
do not force students to believe it. They only give the information. Let us
repeal the law.
Sincerely,
Yan
Zheng
5/6/2001
Return to the Top of this Page