The Scopes Trial: Defending the Right to Teach

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-This famous case brought together two of the nation's best-known orators, William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow. Blake successfully presents both sides of the controversy in this riveting account that puts readers right in the middle of the courtroom- they will feel the tension and heat of those July days. He provides readers with an informative look at an often misunderstood event (the defense wanted to lose the case locally so that it could be appealed to the State Supreme Court, where they hoped to have the law declared unconstitutional). The account ends by pointing out that an individual or group's religious beliefs should not interfere with the rights of others to teach or to learn, and that teachers must be free to teach all knowledge in all disciplines. Many black-and-white photographs taken at the trial are included. A more detailed look at the subject for older readers is Tom McGowen's The Great Monkey Trial (Watts, 1990).-Eunice Weech, M.L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL