Revealing little-known facts about the fight to teach evolution in
schools, this riveting account of the dramatic 1925 Scopes Trial (aka
"the Monkey Trial") speaks directly to today's fights over what students
learn, the tension between science and religion, the influence of the
media on public debate, and the power of one individual to change
history.
Arrested? For teaching? John Scopes's crime riveted the world, and
crowds flocked to the trial of the man who dared to tell students about
a forbidden topic--evolution.
The year was 1925, and discussing Darwin's theory of evolution was
illegal in Tennessee classrooms. Lawyers wanted to challenge the law,
and businessmen smelled opportunity. But no one imagined the firestorm
the Scopes Trial would ignite--or the media circus that would follow.
As reporters, souvenir-hawking vendors, angry protestors, and even real
monkeys mobbed the courthouse, a breathless public followed the action
live on national radio broadcasts. All were fascinated by the bitter
duel between science and religion, an argument that boiled down to the
question of who controls what students can learn--an issue that
resonates to this day.
Through contemporary visuals and evocative prose, Anita Sanchez vividly
captures the passion, personalities, and pageantry of the infamous
"Monkey Trial," highlighting the quiet dignity of the teacher who stood
up for his students' right to learn.