New evolution spat in U.S. schools goes to court

[Eugene]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/23/AR2005092300927.html

New evolution spat in U.S. schools goes to court

By Jon Hurdle
Reuters
Friday, September 23, 2005; 1:05 PM

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A new battle over teaching about man's
origins in U.S. schools goes to court for the first time next week,
pitting Christian conservatives against educators and scientists in
a trial viewed as the biggest test of the issue since the late 1980s.

Eleven parents of students at a Pennsylvania high school are suing
over the school district's decision to include "intelligent design"
-- an alternative to evolution that involves a God-like creator --
in the curriculum of ninth-grade biology classes.

The parents and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) say the
policy of the Dover Area School District in south-central Pennsylvania
violates the constitutional separation of church and state, which
forbids teaching religion in public schools.

They also argue that intelligent design is unscientific and has no
place in a science curriculum.

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more...

[RethugAssKicker]

1. This is happening in Northern Schools too?

I had no idea that Northern schools were teaching ID... and in biology class?.... These fundies have gone too far. I thought this shit was settled 80 years ago!

[Azathoth]

3. Pennsylvania elected Santorum

They've got more than their fair share of religious nutjobs.

[maxrandb]

2. And We Wonder

Why kids in almost every other country are kicking our kids asses in Math and Science.

[Duer 157099]

4. My son just started middle school this year

and in his Humanities class, the first topic they're teaching is evolution -- it sort of surprised me, but now that I'm thinking about it, maybe they want to hurry up and cover it before the rules change, lol...

[kath]

17. In Humanities class?? Huh??

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

5. Time to join the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

and go to Philly.

DBDB

[Roland99]

6. Amen! All hail the Pastafarians!

[Tesha]

15. Blessed be its holy sauce! (NT)

[IntravenousDemilo]

7. Did you talk like a pirate on September 19?

If so, then Ramen, brother! If not, well, it's only 361 more days till the next Talk Like a Pirate Day.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

10. I was going to

but the School Board members we were speaking to that evening would not have gotten the joke.

Our rep, however, nearly pissed herself laughing when I spoke.

"After our presenting information to you for over 10 months, those of you (board members) still in denial despite an obvious preponderance of supporting evidence are qualified to work at FEMA, and I heard they have openings."

DBDB

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. May he smite them vigorously with his Noodly Appendage

(Us Pastafarians gotta stick together. Of course, I've found that a tablespoon-full or so of olive oil tends to prevent sticking. YMMV)

[phatkatt]

11. Aaarrrg! Good to see me FSM mateys!

Be seeing ye at the beer volcano!

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

12. And let me say RAMEN! (n/t)

[sarcasmo]

14. WWFSMD

[Akoto]

9. My feeling is ...

The fundies sense that their hold over the country isn't going to last, especially with all of the recent screwups, and they're doing their best to slam through as many changes as they can.

[kiraboo]

13. Only eleven parents?

What the hell? Is nobody paying attention?

[FVZA_Colonel]

16. So the Discovery Institute is claiming that this is Scopes in reverse?

Hardly. This is about keeping religious ideology out of science classes and in philosophy, comparitive theology, humanities, or history classes where it should be. Also, you want to see some really attrocious comments, check out the disscussion board.

[MarsThe Cat]

18. Until the human race can get over the 'mystical creator' superstitions-

expect this kind of thing to only get worse.

religion is the biggest remaining obtacle to advancing our civilization.