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Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Intelligent Design vs. Schools

[NOTE: Rushed post, sorry. Accounting fair today...]

This should be an interesting trial:
Dover is believed to be the nation's first school system to mandate students be exposed to the intelligent design concept. Its policy requires school administrators to read a brief statement before classes on evolution that says Charles Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps." It refers students to an intelligent-design textbook for more information.

Intelligent design holds that Darwin's theory of natural selection cannot fully explain the origin of life or the emergence of highly complex life forms. It implies that life on Earth was the product of an unidentified intelligent force.

Eight families sued, saying that the district policy in effect promotes the Bible's view of creation, violating the constitutional separation of church and state.
What is slightly disturbing about this trial is that it will accomplish little, unless there is a counter-suit immediately following it. The problem lies in what this suit is over: Whether ID can be forced to be taught in schools. The answer, likely, will be no, because it's not a 'proven scientific theory'. The primary argument the other way is said by the school:
Its policy requires school administrators to read a brief statement before classes on evolution that says Charles Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps."
This is an excellent answer, but doesn't solve the issue.

A countersuit or reverse lawsuit would make more sense: Based on the finding the judge will likely make in this case, suing schools that teach evolution should win as well. As Darwinism (or even neo-Darwinism) still require similar jumps of reasoning, they are also not 'proven scientific fact'. If those lawsuits win as well, a compromise could then be reached that both should be taught as possible sources of creation.

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