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| NUMBER 240 | THE NEWSPAPER OF EDUCATION RIGHTS | JANUARY 2006 |
| Evolution Cases Hit the Courts | |
| Is it unconstitutional to criticize Darwin? | |
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Contrary to most media coverage, the Dover case was not about whether the theory of evolution or Intelligent Design is correct or should be taught. The Dover school board did not propose to decrease its teaching of evolution, or to say ID is scientific or valid. Students were merely to be read a brief statement asserting that "gaps in the theory exist for which there is no evidence," and that ID provides an explanation for the origin of life that could be further explored by consulting a book in the school library. Judge Jones' decision smeared "fundamentalists," impugned the integrity of those who disagree with him by accusing them of lying, and accused parents and school board members of "breathtaking inanity" for wanting their children to know about intelligent design. Meanwhile, on Dec. 15, an appellate judge was sharply critical of a similar decision in Cobb County, GA, where U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper had ordered the schools to remove from 35,000 science textbooks a 33-word disclaimer stating that "evolution is a theory, not a fact." |
