Intelligent Design and the Secular Humanists

On December 14, 11 Dover parents, the Pennsylvania ACLU, Americans United, and Pepper Hamilton LLP filed suit in Federal District Court against the ID policy of the Dover Area School District (ACLU 2004). The case, known as Kitzmiller et al versus Dover Area School District was widely presented by the media as a school board's attempt to introduce the teaching of Intelligent Design into science class rooms.

Phyllis Schaflyhas some interesting observations regarding the intelligent design/Dover school board ruling:

Contrary to most media coverage, the Dover case was not about whether Darwin's theory of evolution, as set forth in "The Origin of the Species," or the theory of "intelligent design" is correct or should be taught. The Dover school board did not propose to say intelligent design is scientific or valid, or even to decrease its teaching of evolution.
Students were merely to be read a brief statement asserting that "gaps in the theory exist for which there is no evidence," and that intelligent design provides an explanation for the origin of life that could be further explored by consulting a book in the school library. While not denying that those statements may be true (it is undeniable that evolution has gaps), the judge nevertheless permanently enjoined the school board "from requiring teachers to denigrate or disparage the scientific theory of evolution" and from saying that the theory has gaps.

This was the statement:

The state standards require students to learn about Darwin's Theory of Evolution and to eventually take a standardized test of which evolution is a part.Because Darwin's Theory is a theory, it is still being tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin's view. The reference book, Of Pandas and People, is available for students to see if they would like to explore this view in an effort to gain an understanding of what Intelligent Design actually involves. As is true with any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind.The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life up to individual students and their families. As a standards-driven district, class instruction focuses on the standards and preparing students to be successful on standards-based assessments.

Time Magazine reported:

Intelligent design is a religious idea and a Pennsylvania school board may not introduce it into the classroom, a federal judge ruled today. Judge John E. Jones III ruled that the Dover Area School Board improperly introduced religion into the classroom when it required science teachers to read a brief statement during the 9th grade biology class telling students that evolution was “Just a theory” and inviting them to consider alternatives.

The National Center for Science Education (a "clearinghouse for information and advice to keep evolution in the science classroom and "scientific creationism" out") reported that the ACLU and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State had been following the issue closely and brought legal action against the School Board.

Why are the ACLU and Americans United so vigilant in protecting America's youth from hearing anything that challenges the gospel according to Darwin? How is the Dover statement an introduction of religion into a classroom? What does the First Amendment really mean?

It's time for a serious debate in this county. A real debate over the First Amendment. A debate over politically correct censorship in public education. It's time for the Supreme Court to stop ducking First Amendment Cases and to give some clear, unequivocal opinions regarding the Federal Government's role in First Amendment issues.