Imagine my horror when I walked into a middle school history class to sub yesterday and found out we'd be watching a black and white movie. Keep in mind, that for me, it would not be just once. I had FIVE history periods that would be watching this. Movies are just not my thing. One or two a year is all I can sit through so you can bet that a black and white film won't even make it on my radar.
I found myself surprised when I realized that I was really getting into it. Its basically about a teacher that gets arrested for teaching evolution, which is against the law in the state at the time. He goes on trial and two prominent attorneys put this bible thumping town on the map. Apparently it is based on a true story. I only got to see the first half, but I found the entire movie on youtube (granted, it was in 13 ten minute segments, but it was better than going out and renting it) so Jake and I watched it together.
Whether you are a creationist or an evolutionist, the movie makes some very impressive points. You might ask why a teacher would be showing such a film in a history class. Well, I have no idea. All I know is that they were going to debate it on Tuesday. Sounds like she treading a fine line there.
If you're interested in watching it, here is a link to the user who has posted it on youtube. All 13 segments can be found beginning on page 7 of the users videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=shaina0980&view=videos
As a history major, I have an idea why a history teacher would be showing this. Assuming this is concerning the Scopes Monkey Trial, the American Civil Liberties Union used a Tennessee high school teacher John Scopes as a test case to challenge the Butler Act which made it illegal to teach evolution in public schools. One of the attorneys for the case in favor of creationism was former senator and three-time presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan. I studied it for its historical (not scientific) significance in both US History and US Religious History at BYU and my high school history courses. It is considered a turning point in some religious views in the United States. It is also significant in regards to Bryan, who died five days after the trial ended. When discussed as representative of the religious views of the United States in the 1920s and not as personal religious or scientific beliefs, I don't remember people getting very heated or controversial in the discussions.
ReplyDeleteAhh, now I put 2 and 2 together! The names weren't the same in the movie. Odd, I've taken a billion history courses and I dont think I've ever gone over that in a class, although I am vaguely familiar with it, so I mustve learned about it somewhere.
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