West Virginia man sues education officials for teaching his daughter 'religion' of evolution

Calls on judge to declare teaching the scientific theory unconstitutional

File image: A man in West Virginia is suing education officials for teaching his daughter about evolution (AFP/Getty Images)

A man in West Virginia is suing education officials for teaching his daughter about evolution, claiming it represents “the propagation of religious faith” and will prevent her from achieving her goal of becoming a vet.

In a four-page complaint filed against a range of local, state and federal educators, Jefferson County parent Kenneth Smith said “evolutionary ideology just doesn’t exist and has no math to back it”.

Representing himself, Smith accused the defendants of violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prevents the state from being biased towards or making laws respecting any religion.

Smith said educators had ignored his “accurate scientific mathematical system of genetic variations that proves evolution is a religion”.

“Their actions during the 2014-2015 school year affects my child’s future directly through the state grading system to enter college and the ability to earn economic security and a good job in her chosen veterinarian medical field of work,” Smith’s lawsuit said.

According to the National Centre for Science Education, which posted a link to the legal complaint in full, Smith appeared to be the author of a book called “The True Origin of Man”, which claims to have made “the ultimate discovery” about “the truth of man’s [sic] origins confirmed by DNA mathematical and scientific facts”.

The Charleston Daily Mail, which initially reported Smith’s lawsuit, said he was seeking a trial by jury and concluded by requesting a judge declare that evolution violates the US Constitution. It said the lawsuit was yet to receive a formal response.