DAYTON, TENNESSEE USA 37321! Volume 360 Number 123 Suggested Retail Price $0.10
JULY 23, 1925
NEWS OF RHEA COUNTY, ROANE COUNTY AND MORGAN COUNTY
Dayton Update
Scopes “Monkey” Trial By: Maddy Joyce Hundreds packed themselves into one courthouse. Some on seats, laps and many on the floor. Everyone strained so as not to miss a word. The Johnny Scopes trial in Dayton, TN at the Rhea County Courthouse had begun. Johnny Scopes, a high school science and math teacher who at the age of 24 was being accused of teaching evolution in his high school science class and therefore violating the Butler Act.
Dear Dayton Update Journalist,
The Butler Act had been passed on January 21 of 1925. The Butler Act is a law that prohibtis the teaching of the theory of evolution, which denys the Bibles creationism theory. Dayton didn’t stage this case to raise awareness for the new law, they staged it for more publicity. George Rappleyea who was the manager for the coal and iron company, was the first to convince the rest of the school board and superintendent to stage this case. Rappleyea blamed Scopes for teaching out of a textbook that the state required to be taught. In the book it said clearly described the theory of evolution and since that was in the book, teachers were then supposed to break the law. Even though Scopes didn’t remember teaching evolution, he did show his students the evolution chart and part of the chapter. Scopes then said to those at the meeting, “If you can prove that I taught evolution, then you have a trial on your hands.” As many people know, nobody can keep their word. Johnny Scopes believed everything he was supposedly going to get after the trial. Mr. Frank Earle Robinson, owner of Robinson’s Drug Store and also the head
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Advice Coloum
This picture is of the crowded courthouse in the background and Clarence Darrow in the foreground.
of the school board, promised Scopes with his job in the fall of 1925. Well besides Scopes losing the trial, he also had to pay a fine of $100. After the trial ended, Scopes went to Robinson and began talking about his contract. Robinson denied his contract and told him that he wasn’t allowed to teach at Dayton schools anymore. Scopes was fuming because he thought this trial was just to get Dayton on the map, not that it would affect his future. The town of Dayton didn’t stage the case to raise awareness on the newly passed law, they did it to get attention. The people who lived there felt like nobody had heard of their town and they wanted more publicity, so they staged a case about the theory of evolution.
My daddy is the owner of the Robinson’s Drug Store and is the head of the school board. If you didn’t know already, Robinson’s Drug Store is where all the ideas of the Scopes trial began. I am Frances Robinson, daughter of Frank Earle Robinson. I have brought myself into a dilemma. I am in love with Johnny Scopes and even though I am only 15 and he is 24, I fell in love with him and his teaching. If Mr. Scopes is on trial for teaching this book, then so should every other teacher in Tennessee. All schools are required to teach this book so all schools should be in trouble. Besides Johnny Scopes, I have found out what publicity does to your head. My dad used to never lie, but know he does. He lied about Mr. Scopes’s contract and other things that have to do with the trial. If anyone has any advice for a teenage lover or how to handle my father, you can find me at Robinson’s. -Yours truly, Frances Robinson
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DAYTON, TENNESSEE USA 37321!
JULY 23, 1925
NEWS OF RHEA COUNTY, ROANE COUNTY AND MORGAN COUNTY
Letter to the Editor ! Dear Dayton Update, Do you have to keep throwing me under the bus? I am just saying my opinion about Dayton and everyone then had an opinion. I am H.L. Mencken and I am the journalist for the Baltimore Sun, and I was asked to write what Dayton is like. This newspaper has found, and said, the worst things that you could possibly find about me. Would you like me to write bad things about you? I think not. Stop saying bad stuff about me!! Or I will get my lawyer to sue you. ! -H.L. Mencken
Answer to Advice Column
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This is Johnny Scopes at the age of 40 in 1965.
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Dear Frances Robinson, Well you did get your self into a problem didn’t you! Johnny Scopes is a very handsome man but getting into a relationship with a teacher will not end well. I agree with you Frances, that publicity and fame does go to your head. I can tell that you do not approve of the trial because of the love factor, but also that your dad started this. It must be tough for you. Even if your father lied to you, it isn’t that he doesn’t love you it is that he just can’t tell you the whole truth. It is the same for you. Have you told anyone in your family about your little crush? I bet not. Your daddy probably didn’t want to tell you something and had to not say the truth. ! -Maddy Joyce ! Dayton Update Journalist
OBITUARY
Willliam Jennings Bryan died in his sleep 5 days after the Scopes trial, which ended on July 26, 1925. He was still in Dayton, TN when he passed. He had diabetes and the heat in the courthouse during the trial did nothing but make his health worse. Many Americans thought when he died, that they had lost their best champion. In 1921 he had begun his campaign to educate the public about the Butler’s Act. Many thought that his religious faith took a toll on his ideas and turned him against science and free speech. When he was young, he was open-minded about God and creation. However, as he grew up he made up his mind that Darwin’s theory was the reason for the bad things in life. On the seventh day of the trial, Clarence Darrow, the defense lawyer in the trial, attacked Bryan. Darrow called upon Bryan as an expert, to answer questions related to the teachings of the Bible. Darrow asked question after question about all things to do with the Bible. Bryan answered calmly by saying that he was just trying to protect the word of God. After Bryan passed, a train took him to his burial ground and thousands lined the railroads to watch. In 1930, the fundamentalist college Bryan, began having classes in Dayton, TN in memory of William Jennings Bryan. !
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Lexicon Organizer Word & Page #
Part of Speech (noun, verb, adj)
Definition
Sentence from book
Relevance or importance to topic/time period.
Use the word in a new sentence. (your own!)
Adjourned Page #102
Verb
Break off (a meeting, a game or a legal case) with the intention of resuming it later.
“Judge Raulston, satisfied, pounded his gavel and declared that court was adjourned till 9 o’clock on Monday morning.”
The trial took many days because of many factors. One being the heat and another because it was such a complicated subject.
“Why are you back so early? Was the trial adjourned again?”
Anti-evolution
Noun
Someone or something that is against evolution
“The opponents of evolution made a transition from the anti-evolution crusade of the 1920s to the creation science movement of the 1960s.”
Many people changed their minds during the trial because they realized that the Bible may or may not be fully true or reliable.
Since she did believe in evolution, she lost a dear friend.
Noun
The newspaper that was from Dayton, Tennessee that reported to the rest of the
“ ‘If he’s from Baltimore, then why is his article in the Chattanooga Times?’ ” I asked.
Many people in Dayton were upset by what H.L. Mencken wrote about their town during the
He is such a rotten man writing such bad things about our nice little town, Frances thought.
Grok
Chattanooga Times Page #134
Lexicon Organizer country about the Scopes trial.
trial.
Biased Page #1 (Wikipedia Judge Raulston)
Adjective
Unfairly prejudiced for or against something or someone
“He was accused of being biased and frequently clashed with famed lawyer Clarence Darrow, who represented Scopes.
Many people were biased toward those who believed in evolution.
“You’re not my friend if you believe in evolution.”
Bible Page #139
Noun
Christian scriptures, consisting of 66 Old and New Testaments.
“ ‘You’re a bunch of Bible-thumping extremists, and you can’t put on a fair trial if your lives depended on it.
During the trial, the Bible was referred to many times to see if it said anything about evolution.
“If you believe in the Bible, then you don’t believe in evolution.” “But papa, Johnny Scopes was my favorite teacher and I don’t want him to lose.”
Butler Act Page #1 (Wikipedia on Scopes Trial)
Noun
The Butler Act is a law in Tennessee preventing teachers from teaching evolution.
“John Scopes was accused of violating Tennessee’s Butler Act, which made it unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school.”
Most people believed exactly what the Bible said but some people thought that we evolved from monkeys.
The trial started because Johnny Scopes had supposedly taught evolution, which is illegal in public schools.
Clarence Darrow Page #97
Proper Noun
The lawyer of John Scopes.
“ “Frances, is lawyer is Clarence
Many people were shocked when Clarence Darrow accepted the
“Wait, Mr. Darrow is your lawyer? Oh my gosh I can’t miss this!”
Darrow.’ ”
Lexicon Organizer offer of being Mr. Scopes’ lawyer. Controversy
Noun
Grok
Creationism Page #1 (Wikipedia on Judge Raulston)
Criminal page #96
Creation Science
Noun
Noun
Noun
Disagreement, typically when prolonged, heated and public.
“This case was thus seen as both a
Creationism is the belief that living organisms originated from specific acts of divine creation, as in the biblical account.
“Judge Raulston was an American
A person that has committed a crime.
“ ‘Which means that I was run over
The interpretation of
“The Supreme Court’s understanding
theological contest and a trial on the veracity of modern science regarding the creation-evolution controversy.”
state judge in Rhea County, Tennessee, who received national publicity for presiding over the 1925 Scopes trial, a famous creationism-evolution debate.
by the most famous criminal in the country!’ ”
of creation science has continued to
This is relevant to the time period because during the trial, the judge and lawyers would confirm each fact that was stated before the trial would proceed.
When Darrow and Bryan got into a heated discussion during the last couple of days of the trial, there was controversy about who would win the trial.
Creationism was what more people believed than evolution. The jury for the trial were all creationists so it wasn’t fair.
Judge Raulston was the judge at the Scopes trial and the debate was about creationism and evolution.
Many people refer to Johnny Scopes as a criminal.
Many people are known as criminals when they break the law.
This is relevant because during
“Since I believe what the Supreme Court
Lexicon Organizer Grok
scientific knowledge in accord with belief in the literal truth of the Bible.
win approval from many Americans, while the teaching of evolution and its mechanisms has lagged in the public schools.”
the trial most Americans wanted evolution to be banned in public schools and that is exactly what happened.
believes then I think that evolution shouldn’t be taught in my son’s school.”
Darwinism From Grok
Noun
The theory of evolution advanced by Charles Darwin
“The point was clear: the Bible had proved itself more, not less, scientific than the upstart of Darwinism.”
Darwinism was brought up a lot in the book because that is what the judges and prosecutors used as a reference, the law of Darwinism.
“Next time there is a trial about evolution, I will know more about Darwinism.”
Dudley Field Malone Page #1 (Wikipedia)
Proper Noun
He helped defend Mr. Scopes along with Clarence Darrow.
“In 1925, Malone was invited to join Clarence Darrow as co-counsel for the defense of Johnny Scopes in the famous Monkey Trial.”
During the trial, Malone gave a speech that will be remembered forever.
“Why thank you Mr. Darrow I would love to help defend Mr. Scopes with you.”
Evolution Page # 137
Noun
The process of living organisms that develop over time.
“He said, ‘Do you really believe in evolution?’ ”
Nobody believed in evolution, everyone believed in creationism.
Is it the worst thing in the world to believe in evolution? Can’t I have my own beliefs.
Lexicon Organizer There was a trial in Tennessee because a teacher taught evolution. George Rappleyea Page #1 (Wikipedia)
Proper Noun
He convinced business men in Dayton to sponsor a test case of the Butler Act.
“George Rappleyea is held responsible for convincing John T. Scopes to be the defendant in the famous Monkey Trial.”
George Rappleyea was the man who started the trial.
George Rappleyea said, “You in?” He had just asked Johnny Scopes to participate in the trial, so Dayton would get more publicity.
H.L. Mencken Page # 134
Proper Noun
A journalist who “ ‘A newspaper report lived between about Dayton. Written by 1880-1956 a fellow named H.L. Mencken, from Baltimore.’ ”
H.L. Mencken was a famous newspaper reporter and he was known for his writing to be cruel but it was what he saw.
Everybody hates H.L.Mencken because he reports what he sees, not because it’s nice.
Johnny Scopes Page #130
Noun
Johnny Scopes was the man who was testified as teaching evolution in a public school in Dayton,
The protagonist in my book, her father was the head in the school board and he told Johnny Scopes that is trial was
I felt bad for Mr. Scopes. My daddy was being the worst person ever. He wasn’t the type that would lie. But I guess that people change when it
“ ‘You told Johnny Scopes not to worry because you’d take care of everything. Now look at him. He’s miserable. He hates the trial. All he wants to do is get his teaching job back, but you
Lexicon Organizer Tennessee.
won’t give him his contract back.’ ”
just for the comes to publicity. publicity and that Mr. Scopes would get his job back after the trial, but he didn’t give it to him.
Killjoy Page #124
Noun
A person who deliberately spoils the enjoyment of others.
“ ‘Aww, don’t be such a killjoy.’ ” Mencken said.
In Dayton, many people called people who darkened their happiness, a killjoy.
My brother was such a killjoy when he blew out my candles on my birthday.
Methodist Page #125
Noun
member of a Christian Protestant denomination originating in the 18th century.
“ ‘I’m a Methodist.’ ”
Many people who were Methodists didn’t believe in evolution.
The protagonist in my story was a Methodist in the beginning but evolved into a Baptist.
Primate Page #135
Noun
A mammal like humans, apes, lemurs and more.
“ ‘What is a primate?’ Some people ‘It is a another name for a who believed in monkey.’ ” evolution were called primates or monkeys.
“Nobody should be calling anyone a primate depending on what you believe in.”
Prohibition Grok
Noun
The action of forbidding something
“Belief or unbelief of the theory of evolution is no more a characteristic of
“Do read the Bible?”
This relevant because many people thought
“Yes why?”
Lexicon Organizer any religious establishment or mode of worship than is belief or unbelief in the wisdom of prohibition laws.”
that the some people only believed in evolution because of their religious beliefs.
“Then you don’t believe in evolution. Am I correct? “Yes.”
Prosecution Page #169
Noun
The institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge
“The prosecution rested, which meant it was time for the defense to present its case in favor of Johnny.”
The prosecution, or the people who didn’t like Mr. Scopes, had a much bigger fan section then the defense. Which means that more people liked William Jennings Bryan then Clarence Darrow.
“Finally, the prosecution has ended its stupid case.”
Publicity Page #24
Noun
Notice or attention given to someone or something
“ ‘And how do you get more people? Publicity, boy, publicity.’ ”
The trial all started because the people of Dayton, Tennessee wanted more publicity.
Don’t you want more publicity?
Lexicon Organizer Trial Page #131
Noun
A formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.
“ ‘Don’t make me miss the trial,’ I said. ‘I need to see what happens. I need to understand. Please?’ ”
Many children who lived in Dayton, Tennessee would beg their parents to let them go see the trial everyday.
“Daddy, I know I’m in trouble but you wouldn’t ground me so that I would miss this, would you?”
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