Dover school board rescinds 'intelligent design' policy

Associated Press ^ | 1.03.06

[mhking]

By MARTHA RAFFAELE Associated Press Writer

DOVER, Pa. (AP) -- The Dover school board on Tuesday rescinded its policy of presenting "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution in high school biology classes, two weeks after a federal judge found the concept was religious and not scientific.

There was no discussion by members of the Dover Area School Board before the voice vote Tuesday night.

The policy, approved in October 2004, required that a statement be read to students about "intelligent design" before ninth-grade lessons on evolution. The statement said Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps." It referred students to an "intelligent-design" book.

On Dec. 20, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III sided with eight families who argued that "intelligent design," which attributes the existence of complex organisms to an unidentified intelligent cause, is biblical creationism in disguise.

The school board said it was trying to improve science education by exposing students to alternatives.

But the judge said the board's real purpose was "to promote religion in the public school classroom," and said intelligent design could not be taught as an alternative to evolution in biology classes.

Most of the school board incumbents who had defended the policy were ousted in the November election, replaced by candidates who pledged to eliminate it.

The policy and federal lawsuit added fuel to a national debate over "intelligent design."

[mhking]

I don't have a link yet - it just crossed the wires (and my desk - I'm tied to the raw wires at work). I'll have a link shortly.

[Stultis]

Ping!

[PatrickHenry]

I just posted a link in another thread: here

[PatrickHenry]

Archival. Should I ping the list? We've got the other Dover thread going already.

[KingofZion]

finally a sensible decision. too bad all this tax money was wasted litigating issues that were decided correctly in the 1920s. maybe the new board can sue the old board for reimbursement.

[Zeroisanumber]

YAY SCIENCE!!!

[American in Israel]

Interesting, Athiest's now define what is and is not religion. One step closer to thought police.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Well, it didn't help any when all those fine, upstanding Christians committed perjury.

[GSlob]

"Atheists now define what is and is not religion."
Makes eminent sense. Who's better to define what is a religion than an atheist? Atheists are allergic to religions, and thus can serve as the best possible indicators. If you are looking for wild garlic, you better have a vampire along.

[American in Israel]

Only problem is Athiests are not alergic to Humanism, for that is their religion. You know, the one sponsored, mandated and taught in all the goobermint skools.

[Dimensio]

Interesting, Athiest's now define what is and is not religion

Atheist's what now define what is and is not religion?

[Dimensio]

You know, the one sponsored, mandated and taught in all the goobermint skools.

How is Humanism sponsored, mandated and taught?

[GSlob]

Since non-humanistic atheists exist and are rather plentiful, for example among the hard left - your statement is wrong. If you grab Fidel or Pol Pot, they would be allergic to "Humanism".