Students, teachers to be excused from 'intelligent design' statement

[truthpusher]

(I'm sorry if this is a dupe, but I am fairly certain this is new info regarding this important situation)

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13705843&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6

AP State News

Students, teachers to be excused from 'intelligent design' statement

By MARTHA RAFFAELE, AP Education Writer, The Associated Press

January 07, 2005

A school district that attracted national attention by requiring the reading of a statement about "intelligent design" as an alternative to the theory of evolution in high-school biology classes made the mandate optional Friday for teachers and students who object to it.

The Dover Area School District agreed to temporarily exempt science teachers from having to read the statement, after seven of them signed a letter objecting to the policy on grounds that it would violate Pennsylvania's professional standards and practices code for teachers.

(snip)

The Dover district is believed to be the only one in the nation to require teachers to mention intelligent design _ a concept that holds that the universe is so complex, it had to be created by an unspecified guiding force _ in the classroom.

(snip)

Civil-liberties groups who filed the suit allege 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.

more:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13705843&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6

Text of a statement on intelligent design that Dover Area High School administrators will read to students at the start of biology classes on Jan. 13: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13705845&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6

[lenidog]

1. Its Dover township school district

Its not that important because 90% of them wont remember a thing about intelligent design or evolution.

[truthpusher]

2. Are you referring to their lack of being evolved?...

...and you have to agree this is important. I live in a moderately conservative school district in CO and I could easily see these knuckleheads doing the same thing here.

[lenidog]

4. Well yes I am

Many of the student in the Dover school district are living proof that Darwin was right. Seriously it is important but it is intresting to see the different responses to this situation, Around here in York county were Dover Township is most people just shake there heads. Its not exactly earthshaking news that Dover would do somthing along this line.

[havocmom]

3. What students may or may not remember is not as important as precedent

and the district was trying to set a dangerous one.

Three cheers for the science teachers who went on record objecting! We shall hold them at patriots along with the librarians who put up posters warning patrons about searches of their reading lists and those who dump the cache of library computers that patrons can use to protect their privacy in this day of thought police.

One need not be especially high ranking to be a warrior defending true American values. These teachers are fighting the good fight.

[roguevalley]

5. Bless the teachers. You have no idea what a soul killer it is having

this kind of crap dumped on you. I expect 100% opt out for teachers there.

[Habibi]

6. Isn't there now a web site dedicated to thanking patriots?

I believe it was started to thank Conyers, Tubbs-Jones, and Boxer, but I wonder if it could be expanded to include people like these--ordinary folk who stand up and say no.

[havocmom]

8. Don't know about a web site, but do know LTTE to thank people work

wonders to get people thinking/talking. People who stick their necks out to stand up for what they believe to be best are heroes. We should always be alert to their presence in our lives and thank them. We should try and incorporate some of their integrity into our own methods.

The nation needs heroes who will take a stand. We have more than enough people willing to just say whatever and not take a stand for anything.

When you see somebody do something just because it was the right thing to do, thank them for it. Thank them well when they took a personal risk for the greater good.

[Habibi]

10. You're so right

We do need to thank the people who take a stand. Maybe if we take the time to thank them, the next people to stand up will be us! (Not meaning to suggest you don't already stand up, havocmom!)

[bozo299]

7. I live here

Living in the area, you should know that the Dover school is
in the center of the "Red Lion" district, which has
its own religious TV station. Very fundy. Latest local new is
that there will be a reading to the group of students, since
the teachers complained.

[annabanana]

9. Who will be doing the reading? And will it take place in the school..

during school hours? (the ACLU should know)

Oh! and Welcome to DU!
:toast:

[Montanan]

11. Complexity is not proof of a creator

"...intelligent design, a concept that holds that the universe is so complex, it had to be created by an unspecified guiding force..."

If the complexity of the universe was proof that it had a creator (God), we would then logically have to ask who created God, because God would necessarily be even more complex than his creation.

[truthpusher]

12. Who know's...

...that argument can go on forever...it doesn't matter who's right. What matters is that creationism/intelligent design is 'religion' and public funding for religious schooling smacks of theocracy.