Should the federal Department of Education be abolished?

That’s a question parents and politicians need to answer in light of discussions following the recent election. But it sure sounds like one of the battles fought in 1925 during the Scopes Trial.

Who is responsible for a child’s education? Parents or the government? What role do – or should – parents have in what is taught in public schools? Who gets to decide on the curriculum? Parents, teachers, administrators or government officials?

William Jennings Bryan argued: “The parents have a right to say that no teacher paid by their money shall rob their children of faith in God and send them back to their homes, skeptical, infidels, or agnostics, or atheists.”

Defense attorney Dudley Field Malone had this to say: “For God’s sake let the children have their minds kept open—close no doors to their knowledge; shut no door from them.”

Public education has been high on the list of discussion topics in the past several years, and the subject doesn’t seem to be going away.

Plan to visit Dayton and the Scopes Trial Centennial celebration next July to see how this topic – and others – was first argued in court. The Scopes Trial play Destiny in Dayton uses dialogue from the court transcript; see for yourself how little has changed in the past 100 years.

Tickets are on sale HERE for the July 11, 12, 18 and 19 shows. For more information, visit www.rheaheritage.com or www.scopes100.com.