 Segraves contended that the teaching of religion at his children's public school violated their freedom to practice religion, and thus, infringed upon their First Amendment rights.Segraves sued California on behalf of his three children, who were minors at the time, on January 19, 1979.Cited in Segraves's complaint is the curriculum guide "Science Framework for California Public Schools," which is said to convey the idea that "the theory of evolution is the only credible theory of the origin of [life]."