Posted on 01/13/2005 8:33:37 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
ATLANTA (AP) -- Federal judge rules the evolution disclaimer stickers placed inside Cobb County science textbooks are unconsitutional.
"I am a student at Kennesaw State University in Cobb County and my science professory was smiling like a jackal today... he couldn't have been happier about this nonsensical ruling."
Keep in mind the old saying "he who laughs last laughs longest", and WE have not begun to laugh YET!
I do. The difference is a fig leaf.
According to the idiot judge, while evolution may be called "theory" by some unspecified individuals, it may not be called that by "religiously motivated individuals".
Give that man a Darwin award.
LOL
Heliocentricity is a theory, not a fact.
Actually, Ole went to Grand Marais, where he met up with Swen and opened up Swen and Ole's, the best pizza place this side of Chicago.
Maybe if we paid our judges more, we wouldn't have so many stupid ones.
Based on that logic, I'd think you'd be more upset with the parents who sued and forced Cobb County to waste money defending its decision in court.
Obviously unconstitutional.
LOL.
Well, gosh, why didn't someone just tell me it's the truth simply because it's an article of faith for them, and I wouldn't have spent all this time looking at the issue.
C'mon. You want a "scientific" approach (which I assume you take ID to be) and have it accepted simply because someone states "it's the truth". If you want to play in the science game, it's gotta be a little more than just stated categorically.
If you have ever read my previous posts on the "evo" threads, you will know that I oppose the teaching of creationism in school.
Nevertheless, this judge's decision is troubling. He seems to say that just because some religious folks forced the issue, the school board cannot insert a non-religious sticker on a textbook.
According to this judge, it will be unconstitutional to place a sticker on physics books stating that "the law of gravity is a theory, not fact." As long as religious people asked for the sticker, then the content of the sticker can be twisted to mean anything the judge wants.
I think this judge overreached, and I hope he will get overturned.
[p 38 ff]
Due to the manner in which the Sticker refers to evolution as a theory, the Sucker also has the effect of undermining evolution education to the benefit of those Cobb County citizens who would prefer that students maintain their religious beliefs regarding the origin of life As Plaintiffs argue and Dr Miller, the co-author of the science textbook, testified, the use of "theory" in the Sticker plays on the colloquial or popular understanding of the term and suggests to the informed, reasonable observer that evolution is only a highly questionable "opinion" or a "hunch " The Sticker thus has a great potential to prompt confusion among the students.' While there may be an educational benefit to students spending time learning the general difference between a theory and a fact as a scientific matter, teachers have less time to teach the substance of evolution. Thus, although evolution is required to be taught in Cobb County classrooms as a technical matter, distracting tangential issues effectively dilute evolution instruction to the benefit of the anti-evolutionists who are motivated to advance their religious beliefs.skip
[p 42] In sum, the Sticker in dispute violates the effects prang of the Lemon test and justice O'Connor's endorsement test, which the Court has incorporated into its Lemon analysis Adopted by the school board, funded by the money of taxpayers, and inserted by school personnel, the Sticker conveys an impermissible message of endorsement and tells some citizens that they are political outsiders while telling others that they are political insiders. Regardless of whether teachers comply with the Cobb County School District's regulation on theories of origin and regardless of the discussions that actually take place m the Cobb County science classrooms, the Sticker has already sent a message that the School Board agrees with the beliefs of Christian fundamentalists and crest ionrsts. The School Board has effectively improperly entangled itself whiz religion by appearing to take a position Therefore, the Sticker must be removed from all of the textbooks into which it has been placed .
skip
p43 In the instant case, it is undisputed that the Cobb County School Board used the money of taxpayers to produce and place the Sticker in dispute in certain of the Cobb County School District science textbooks This Sticker aids the beliefs of Christran fundamentalists and creationists. In light of the prior interpretation of the Georgia Constitution provision challenged by the Plaintiffs and given the Court's conclusion above that the Sticker violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, the Court likewise concludes that the Sticker runs afoul of the Georgia Constitution.
CONCLUSION
Fox the abode-stated reasons, the Court hereby FINDS and CONCLUDES that the Sucker [hee hee, hysterical typo] adopted by the Cobb County Board of Education violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and Article I, Section II, ParagraphVII of the Constitution of the State of Georgia In light of this conclusion, the Court hereby ORDERS as follows
1 . Defendants shall immediately remove the Sticker from all science textbooks into which the Sticker has been placed
2 Defendants are permanently enjoined from disseminating the Sticker in any form
3 Because Plaintiffs seek nominal damages, Plaintiffs shall file with the Court and serve upon Defendants then claim for damages and a verified statement of any fees and/or costs to which they claim entitlement. Defendants shall have the right to object to any such fees and costs as provided in the applicable statutes and court rules.
Let me rephrase it in a constitutionally acceptable way: THIS MATERIAL MUST BE SWALLOWED WHOLE. IT CANNOT BE QUESTIONED, STUDIED OR DEBATED. NO DISSENT IS PERMITTED. ON THIS QUESTION ALL MINDS MUST BE CLOSED AND LOCKED TIGHT.
Can you offer conclusive, scientific proof (i.e. repeatable) for the theory of evolution? If so, get your plane ticket to Oslo ready for a Nobel prize, because nobody has yet.
????
The judge interprets law then makes a decision based upon divining the mind of a fictional observer? Objectivity be damned.... Otherwise it requires a jury....
No reefer madness stickers either?
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