ACLU Protests Hugoton Assembly

The American Civil Liberties Union is objecting to a southwest Kansas district’s plans to allow a pro-creationism group into its schools to talk to students about dinosaurs.

Members of the Creation Truth Foundation are to speak next week during student assemblies in Hugoton schools and in the evening at public gatherings. The ACLU said Friday it wants the district to call off the school assemblies.

Foundation instructor Matt Miles says creationism would only be discussed during events conducted outside the school day.

Superintendent Mark Crawford says he isn’t canceling the assemblies. He says the group won’t be allowed to promote the evening events during the school events.

But ACLU attorney Doug Bonney says the chance for constitutional violations is high, given the Oklahoma-based foundation’s mission of promoting Christianity.