Ex-Teacher Testifies in Evolution Case [Day 3 of trial in Dover, PA]

The Intelligencer (PA) via phillyBurbs ^ | 28 September 2005 | MARTHA RAFFAELE

[PatrickHenry]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A former physics teacher testified that his rural school board ignored faculty protests before deciding to introduce the theory of "intelligent design" to high school students.

"I saw a district in which teachers were not respected for their professional expertise," Bryan Rehm, a former teacher at Dover High School, said Tuesday.

Rehm, who now teaches in another district, is a plaintiff in the nation's first trial over whether public schools can teach "intelligent design."

Eight Dover families are trying to have the controversial theory removed from the curriculum, arguing that it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. They say it effectively promotes the Bible's view of creation.

Proponents of intelligent design argue that life on Earth was the product of an unidentified intelligent force, and that Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection cannot fully explain the origin of life or the emergence of highly complex life forms.

Aralene "Barrie" Callahan, a former member of the Dover school board and another plaintiff in the case, said that at least two board members made statements during meetings that made her believe the new policy was religiously based.

At a retreat in March 2003, a board member "expressed he did not believe in evolution and if evolution was part of the biology curriculum, creationism had to be shared 50-50," Callahan testified.

At a school board meeting in June 2004, when she was no longer on the board, Callahan recalled another board member complaining that a biology book recommended by the administration was "laced with Darwinism."

"They were pretty much downplaying evolution as something that was credible," she said.

In October 2004, the board voted 6-3 to require teachers to read a brief statement about intelligent design to students before classes on evolution. The statement says Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps," and refers students to an intelligent-design textbook for more information.

In a separate development Tuesday, two freelance newspaper reporters who covered the school board in June 2004 both invoked their First Amendment rights and declined to provide a deposition to lawyers for the school district.

Both are expected in court Wednesday to respond to a subpoena to testify at trial, said Niles Benn, a lawyer for the papers. Lawyers for the school district have questioned the accuracy of articles in which the reporters wrote that board members discussed creationism during public meetings.

In other testimony Tuesday, plaintiff Tammy Kitzmiller said that in January, her younger daughter opted out of hearing the statement - an option given all students - putting her in an awkward position.

"My 14-year-old daughter had to make the choice between staying in the classroom and being confused ... or she had to be singled out and face the possible ridicule of her friends and classmates," she said.

The Dover Area School District, which serves about 3,500 students, is believed to be the nation's first school system to mandate that students be exposed to the intelligent design concept. It argues it is not endorsing any religious view and only letting students know there are differences of opinion about evolution.

The non-jury trial is expected to take five weeks.

[connectthedots]

Bryan Rehm's family used to be able to count on friendly exchanges in restaurants or other public places around Dover. But on the witness stand yesterday, he told the court how different the Dover area community became once it was divided by the battle over intelligent design.

The kids at school tell his daughter she "came from monkeys," he said.

While this may be an oversimplification, isn't this pretty much what evolution claims?

[RadioAstronomer]

No

[connectthedots]

Then where did she come from?

[PatrickHenry]

From here:

This past December, John E. Jones, III, chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) and the already designated NABCA President-Elect for 2001-2002, resigned from the NABCA position, citing other responsibilities that would not allow time for him to properly perform his duties as NABCA President. Indeed, just before press time, StateWays learned that Jones was officially nominated on February 28 by President George W. Bush for a seat as a Federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

John E. Jones III

[RadioAstronomer]

http://anthro.palomar.edu/earlyprimates/early_2.htm

(It does appear the very early primates were called monkeys, however, they are not the modern monkeys we see today)

[connectthedots]

So, the evolutionist answer is 'yes' rather than 'no'. That being the case, why should taht girl's parents be upset?

Evolutionists can't have it both ways.

[RadioAstronomer]

Not the same monkeys. Sorry, but in reference to the original question, the answer is still no.

Read the link.

[js1138]

I'm going to have to eat some crow here. that picture, along, with that bio, says we are in a heap of trouble. I bet he wishes this was a jury trial.

[connectthedots]

I did. Aside from the article in the link containing a lot of speculation, the general answer is 'yes'.

[balrog666]

I guess these school board members have never heard of the 9th Commandment, although that is on a par with most young-Earth-creationists.

[PatrickHenry]

b_sharp suggested this link, which is now added to The List-O-Links:

NEW Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics. Please note the Evolution link.

[Right Wing Professor]

I'm going to have to eat some crow here. that picture, along, with that bio, says we are in a heap of trouble

Doubt it. The senators from PA are Specter and Santorum; he would have been suggested by them. Neither is hard core religious right. He was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. His role as District Court judge is to assemble a factual record, and render a verdict based on the law. The case law here is clear, and he's given the plaintiffs a lot of latitude in introducing evidence. I was quite surprised he admitted testimony about Philip Johnson's statements on ID being an excuse to bring God into the classroom.

He'll issue a narrow, safe verdict based on precedent, finding for the plaintiffs, and the case will go to appeal, maybe, if Thomas More doesn't decide to cut their losses.

[PatrickHenry]

I'm going to have to eat some crow here. that picture, along, with that bio, says we are in a heap of trouble. I bet he wishes this was a jury trial.

He's no John Roberts. His record makes him sound like a political hack. And he's sitting there, thinking: "I don't know what's going on here, but on one side we have the ACLU ..."

[Right Wing Professor]

So, the evolutionist answer is 'yes' rather than 'no'. That being the case, why should taht girl's parents be upset?

If a kid's taunted about being short, and really is short, you think that's OK?

[PatrickHenry]

The senators from PA are Specter and Santorum ...

I recall that Santorum slipped something strange into the "No student left behind" bill. Something about creationism. I may be remembering it all wrong.

[WillamShakespeare]

This only truth here is devolution. Devo must be taught in schools! By gum I demand it!

[Matchett-PI]

"The case is about the Constitution -- specifically whether ID is so infused with theology that the school board's decision to present it violates the First Amendment."

~ Patrick Henry If one wants to use that argument then we can also say, "The case is about the Constitution -- specifically whether Darwinianism is so infused with supernaturalism (metaphysics) that the school board allowing it to be taught in sciences classes violates the First Amendment."

From the horse's mouth, himself:

"Origin of man now proved. -- Metaphysics must flourish. - He who understands baboon would do more toward Metaphysics than Locke." --- [Charles] Darwin, Notebook M, August 16, 1838

As proudly quoted front and center by Michael T Ghiselin in his book Metaphysics and the Origin of Species

[Matchett-PI]

"..I don't want superstition taught at public expense."

Did you intend to bad-mouth Darwin? (See #77)

[js1138]

In reporting discussions about intelligent design, they quoted board members making religious statements that the board members now deny making.

Interesting. How many witnesses does it take to make something a fact?

[RightWingAtheist]

Yes, he did.