People can believe in whatever they wish to believe. But the education of science must be left alone to the realm of scientists. This imposition of politics onto science is futile and will eventually fail.
The historical Thomas More was killed because he defied the authority of the state, in the person of a King Henry VIII of England. In an insutlting irony to his true legacy, this group, in More's name, seeks to use the power of the state to force a non-scientific idea upon science.
That biology teacher, Jennifer Miller, in her refusal to read the statement and her not taking any questions on this imposition of ignorance by the ignorant, is acting more in accordance with the real Thomas More. May all biology teachers follow her example. May they not share his fate.
The More Center was founded by Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, a staunch Catholic. Perhaps the Pope should inform him that evolution is accepted by the Church. In what would be the irony of the century, science teachers should appeal to the Pope in order to protect the integrity of science.
"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."
Oh these poor babies...I had a test in a science class once in middle school. And one of the questions on the test was an essay, where we had to write a couple of paragraphs explaining the process by which we evolved to what we are now. I was not excused from having to answer that. I didn't answer it, and I failed the test. I took my failing grade and got over it. That was my choice, and I stood by it. They should not be excused from class because they don't want to hear something. If they skip that class, they should be penalized, and they should stand by it. But then again, we are talking about a group of children whose parents have taught them not to accept or expect consequences for their actions.
Thank God.