Defend Evolution!
Educate Unevolving School Districts
November 22, 2004
Creationism is back in U.S. public schools, at least in three hot spots. Please write or email at least 1 of the 3 public school districts listed below, and/or use this information or news updates on these running controversies as a springboard for letters to the editor.
In 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Epperson v. Arkansas, called efforts to halt the teaching of evolution an unconstitutional promotion of religion. In 1987, the court similarly ruled that creationism cannot be taught in public schools. But fundamentalist attacks on the science of evolution continue, with more rogue decisions by ignorant school boards anticipated.
"Intelligent design" is a new buzzword for the same old creationism. It has no science, no evidence, no testing of hypotheses, no experiments. "Intelligent Design" promoters misuse the word "theory." A theory in science is not a guess: it is a framework for explaining the facts. (For example, the phrase "music theory" does not question the existence of music.) Yet creationists talk about the "theories of origin" as if these were merely equal hypotheses. While creationism is merely a hypothesis (not even a theory)--based solely on a religious text, not on science--evolution is a fact of science and the bedrock of biological sciences: testable, logical, falsifiable, and able to make predictions.
If the promoters of "Intelligent Design" really wanted "equal time," they would invite evolutionary scientists to share the pulpit in their churches, or they would insert a chapter from Darwin into Genesis. Would they suggest a disclaimer that gravitation is merely a "theory," not a fact? (For a list of books and resources debunking creationism, see here.)
As always, we suggest concise letters or emails, concentrating on one or two main points, which contain your full name and address.
1. Dover, Pa.
In October, the Dover Area School District is believed to have become the first in the nation to mandate the teaching of the misnamed "intelligent design" theory, claiming the universe is "so complex" it follows that it must have been created by an intelligent higher power. The district, enrolling 2,800 students in a rural community 20 miles south of Harrisburg, is requiring a change in the ninth-grade biology curriculum.
"We have a vocal group within the community who feel very strongly in an evangelical Christian way that there is no separation of church and state," said Carol Brown, who with her husband Jeff Brown, was one of three dissenting votes.
For more information, read the news story here.
Read the District's press release on this issue here.
Contact:
Dover Area School District
2 School Ln
Dover PA 17315
717/292-3671
Dr. Richard D. Nilsen, Supt.
rnilse@dover.k12.pa.us
To contact school board members, go here.
2. Grantsburg, Wis.
On Oct. 12, the Grantsburg school board passed a motion: "When theories of origin are taught, students will study various scientific models or theories of origin and identify the scientific data supporting each." This motion revised a policy first passed unanimously on June 28, "to direct our science department to teach all theories of origin."
Although 42 deans throughout the University of Wisconsin system on Oct. 18 urged the board to rescind the policy, and more than 300 faculty members in Wisconsin on Nov. 1 signed a second letter of protest, the board is so far obdurate.
Not coincidentally, the president of the school board, David Ahlquist, is a pastor at a local Baptist church, which has previously invited a "young-earth" creationist to speak.
The main problem is the mandate to study not just "scientific models" but "theories of origin."
To read more, see here.
Contact:
Grantsburg Schools
480 E James Ave
Grantsburg WI 54840-7959
715/463-5499
fax 715/463-2534
Dr. Joni Burgin, District Administrator
jburg@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
School Board Member Email Addresses:
David Ahlquist dahlquist@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
David Dahlberg ddahlberg@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
Christine Erickson cerickson@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
Russell Erickson rerickson@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
Cindy Jensen cjensen@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
Eric McKinley emckinley@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
James Sundquist jsundquist@grantsburg.k12.wi.us
You may also wish to send a letter or email to the Burnett County Sentinel, Box 397, Grantsburg WI 54840, fax 715/463-5138. To email, fill out the form at the website here.
3. Marietta, Ga. (Cobb Co.)
The suburban Atlanta district in 2002 required that a sticker be placed on science textbooks, calling evolution "a theory, not a fact." A group of parents has sued to remove the sticker, in a trial heard in early November. Although the matter is being litigated, the school district still needs to get flak from rationalists! (They changed the policy after 2,000 parents complained. Mass protests work--give this district some counter-protest.) This tack was first tried in Alabama. Or use this controversy as the basis of a letter to the editor warning about public schools teaching religion, instead of facts.
To read more about this and the other cases, go here.
Contact:
Cobb County School District
514 Glover St.
Marietta GA 30060
Joseph Redden, Supt.
Joseph.Redden@cobbk12.org
To email members of the Board of Education, go here.
As always, please keep your letter(s) succinct, concentrate on one or two major points, and sign your name and address (add phone in letters to the editor). Please write as an individual, not as someone responding to this action alert. We are pleased to receive "blind" copies of your letters by email or mail: algaylor@ffrf.org, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, PO Box 750, Madison WI 53701.
Thank you!