John Peloza and His Teachings Are Taken to Task

John Peloza was hired (by the school district that he is suing) to teach biology. All teachers are given a curriculum that they must follow under mandated state guidelines (in all subjects). Mr. Peloza chose not to follow those guidelines and was properly advised and then reprimanded when he ignored the guidelines and advice.

He has every right to believe whatever he wants about the origin of life. But he was hired to teach what is widely held to be the scientific theory of same. His lawsuit against the school district seeks vindication for his admitted violation of his job guidelines. Clearly he has other motives.

What could his motives be? Is it to test the principle of freedom of speech? He surely has this outside the classroom. In it, he has a job description which probably defines what he should and more importantly--should not--be teaching his students. He has a special role standing in front of impressionable young people. The curriculum represents society’s decision about what that role is. This is not a free-speech issue.

Is it to test freedom of religion? Surely Mr. Peloza is aware (or should be) that separation of church and state (i.e. classroom) is what assures freedom of religion (in private). Imposition of any one religion as the “correct” one immediately threatens the right to believe in not only the rest, but the presently “correct” one also.

Is it to question the widely accepted scientific view of the origin of life? His classroom is the wrong venue for this debate. Let him debate scientists in a forum to discuss this question if he wishes. In a high school class, he must teach what most credible scientists agree (and which the curriculum committee has endorsed) is the most plausible and scientifically consistent theory of the origin of life.

STEPHEN H. GOLDBERGER, Huntington Beach