Posted on 01/19/2005 8:52:24 AM PST by FeeinTennessee
Pa. Students Learn 'Intelligent Design' By MARTHA RAFFAELE The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. - High school students heard about "intelligent design" for the first time Tuesday in a school district that attracted national attention by requiring students to be made aware of it as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
Administrators in the Dover Area School District read a statement to three biology classes Tuesday and were expected to read it to other classes on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., which was speaking on the district's behalf.
The district is believed to be the only one in the nation to require students to hear about intelligent design - a concept that holds that the universe is so complex, it had to be created by an unspecified guiding force.
"The revolution in evolution has begun," said Richard Thompson, the law center's president and chief counsel. "This is the first step in which students will be given an honest scientific evaluation of the theory of evolution and its problems."
The case represents the newest chapter in a history of evolution lawsuits dating back to the Scopes Monkey Trial in Tennessee nearly 80 years ago. In Georgia, a suburban Atlanta school district plans to challenge a federal judge's order to remove stickers in science textbooks that call evolution "a theory, not a fact."
The law center is defending the Dover district against a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of eight families by two civil-liberties groups that alleged intelligent design is merely a secular variation of creationism, the biblical-based view that regards God as the creator of life. They maintain that the Dover district's curriculum mandate may violate the constitutional separation of church and state.
"Students who sat in the classroom were taught material which is religious in content, not scientific, and I think it's unfortunate that has occurred," said Eric Rothschild, a Philadelphia attorney representing the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit.
Biology teacher Jennifer Miller said although she was able to make a smooth transition to her evolution lesson after the statement was read, some students were upset that administrators would not entertain any questions about intelligent design.
"They were told that if you have any questions, to take it home," Miller said.
The district allowed students whose parents objected to the policy to be excused from hearing the statement at the beginning of class and science teachers who opposed the requirement to be exempted from reading the statement. About 15 of 170 ninth-graders asked to be excused from class, Thompson said.
A federal judge has scheduled a trial in the lawsuit for Sept. 26.
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Dover Area School District: http://www.dover.k12.pa.us
Thomas More Law Center: http://www.thomasmore.org
January 18, 2005 6:44 PM
Then why don't all scientists agree?
Because details are not what Genesis is all about. You could add the "many generations" clause, but then what else do you want? Molecular attraction theory? Even that the Earth is round. DON'T YOU WONDER WHY GENESIS DOESN'T TELL YOU THAT THE EARTH IS EVEN ROUND? How could it leave out such an important detail like that?
The reason is because Genesis only has a few hundred words to convey it's story. It isn't about giving you comfort to accept scientific Evolution theory, or round earth geography, or heliocentric universe theory.
God and science do not conflict. It's interpretations of the Bible that conflict, just as always been the case between denominations.
I must have miscommunicated. I believe that science and God are oil and water. Science cannot prove, or disprove, Gods existence. They are separate subjects.
Which is something the IDers don't believe. They are attempting to hyjack science and force it to say that God exists. All they while yelling that they really aren't doing it for religious reasons.
Right.
You have unfinished business on the other thread. Have you accused people on this thread of things you can prove as well?
Post #202. You sure that was for me?
You are getting theology, science, morals and philosophy all mixed up. For the most part, they are separate subjects. They do better when you don't force them together.
They do occasionally. :-) I will let you know by freepmail.
huh, probably not. I'm going fast and loose today.....
LOL! :-)
He has some,,,,issues.
See I see this as a problem with the worshippers of science. You guys can see that outside observers can make contributions to your field. Did not philosphers advance math?
You guys have blinders on.
You are sure? Did God tell you?
But not in public schools that our taxes help support, right?
Think I am going to be sick
Actually, if a school district wants to have a religion curriculum, by all means. Still sick?
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