Evolution textbooks row goes to court

[emad]

Gary Younge in New York
Tuesday November 9, 2004
The Guardian

A suburban American school board found itself in court yesterday after it tried to placate Christian fundamentalist parents by placing a sticker on its science textbooks saying evolution was "a theory, not a fact".

Atlanta's Cobb County school board, the second largest board in Georgia, added the sticker two years ago after a 2,300 strong petition attacked the presentation of "Darwinism unchallenged". Some parents wanted creationism - the theory that God created humans according to the Bible version - to be taught alongside evolution.

Shortly after the stickers were put on the books, six parents launched a legal challenge, with the support of the the American Civil Liberties Union. It started yesterday.

"I'm a strong advocate for the separation of church and state," one of the parents, Jeffrey Selman, told the Associated Press. "I have no problem with anybody's religious beliefs. I just want an adequate educational system."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1346678,00.html

[7th_Sephiroth]

1. poor school board guys

damned if they do damned if they dont

[sui generis]

2. I just think we should put more stickers in them

My sticker would say, "creationism is a fairy tale to be used for personal entertainment and should not be taken seriously by rational human beings."

[emad]

4. Flat Earth Society supporters' stickers might just do the trick too..

Can't believe how bad it can be in US schools.

[RubyDuby in GA]

3. Adequate educational system?

And I want a Democratic president......
We'll get one when we get the other.

[mike6640]

5. Jeez

All science is based on theory; we work with the 'facts' and observations available and try to tie them together. Science practice and theory changes with every new discovery.

Evolution is a theory, and pretty darn good one.

Edit: Give me some 'creationist' facts please.

I suggest everyone read 'The Blind Watchmaker' by Dawkins, c1996.

I have just begun to read it, and the first few chapters are compelling and entertaining.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393315703/qid=1100019106/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-6683502-8629519

[Moderator]

6. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=971990

[eleonora]

7. this is surreal

Man, Europe's schools are so much better. I'm so glad I didn't have to live through that.