Inherit the Wind

 


        Inherit the Wind takes place in the small town of Hillsboro in the 1920s. In the film, a teacher had to stand trial after teaching evolution in class. The real issue at the core of this film was how far we let freedom go. For example, the community of Hillsboro had “freedom” or a choice to want their children to be taught creationism. However, the teacher and students in the classroom still have the freedom and choice to learn another theory of creation, evolution. The conflict highlighted was freedom of individual thought versus freedom of choice by community.  

I believe that the most important parts of this film are how it applies to our world today. For example, Florida has recently banned critical race theory from classrooms. This law states that you cannot teach that "a person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national origin, or sex is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously." Interestingly, from my experience, this is not taught in schools outside of college; “critical race theory” is not taught outside of college. However, this law is being interpreted and used to erase certain parts of history being taught in the classroom at elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is at stake is the ability to show and teach different perspectives on history. By banning certain methods of thought or theories from the classroom, children are overall disadvantaged. You learn more by being exposed to multiple methods of thought. By not being opposed to them, you do not know how to confront other ideas. As the famous quote says, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If we ban certain methods of teaching, we will be doomed to repeat the past, because we do not know the consequences in our present. 


Written by Sierra Loiselle

Comments

  1. David BernellFebruary 20, 2023 at 4:18 PM

    First of all, the cartoon is excellent. The post makes the point that refraining from acknowledging certain parts of history, culture and society leaves one ill-equipped to understand the present. That argument is grounded in the idea that critique isn't an attack in such cases as this, but an act of guarding against failures in the future.

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