Posted on 01/03/2006 12:12:37 PM PST by PatrickHenry
Also today, Dover's board might revoke the controversial intelligent design decision.
Now that the issue of teaching "intelligent design" in Dover schools appears to be played out, the doings of the Dover Area School Board might hold little interest for the rest of the world.
But the people who happen to live in that district find them to be of great consequence. Or so board member James Cashman is finding in his final days of campaigning before Tuesday's special election, during which he will try to retain his seat on the board.
Even though the issue that put the Dover Area School District in the international spotlight is off the table, Cashman found that most of the people who are eligible to vote in the election still intend to vote. And it pleases him to see that they're interested enough in their community to do so, he said.
"People want some finality to this," Cashman said.
Cashman will be running against challenger Bryan Rehm, who originally appeared to have won on Nov. 8. But a judge subsequently ruled that a malfunctioning election machine in one location obliges the school district to do the election over in that particular voting precinct.
Only people who voted at the Friendship Community Church in Dover Township in November are eligible to vote there today.
Rehm didn't return phone calls for comment.
But Bernadette Reinking, the new school board president, said she did some campaigning with Rehm recently. The people who voted originally told her that they intend to do so again, she said. And they don't seem to be interested in talking about issues, she said. Reinking said it's because they already voted once, already know where the candidates stand and already have their minds made up.
Like Cashman, she said she was pleased to see how serious they are about civic participation.
Another event significant to the district is likely to take place today, Reinking said. Although she hadn't yet seen a copy of the school board meeting's agenda, she said that she and her fellow members might officially vote to remove the mention of intelligent design from the school district's science curriculum.
Intelligent design is the idea that life is too complex for random evolution and must have a creator. Supporters of the idea, such as the Discovery Institute in Seattle, insist that it's a legitimate scientific theory.
Opponents argue that it's a pseudo-science designed solely to get around a 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that biblical creationism can't be taught in public schools.
In October 2004, the Dover Area School District became the first in the country to include intelligent design in science class. Board members voted to require ninth-grade biology students to hear a four-paragraph statement about intelligent design.
That decision led 11 district parents to file a lawsuit trying to get the mention of intelligent design removed from the science classroom. U.S. Middle District Court Judge John E. Jones III issued a ruling earlier this month siding with the plaintiffs. [Kitzmiller et al. v Dover Area School District et al..]
While the district was awaiting Jones' decision, the school board election took place at the beginning of November, pitting eight incumbents against a group of eight candidates opposed to the mention of intelligent design in science class.
At first, every challenger appeared to have won. But Cashman filed a complaint about a voting machine that tallied between 96 to 121 votes for all of the other candidates but registered only one vote for him.
If he does end up winning, Cashman said, he's looking forward to doing what he had in mind when he originally ran for school board - looking out for students. And though they might be of no interest to news consumers in other states and countries, Cashman said, the district has plenty of other issues to face besides intelligent design. Among them are scholastic scores and improving the curriculum for younger grades.
And though he would share the duties with former opponents, he said, he is certain they would be able to work together.
"I believe deep down inside, we all have the interest and goal to benefit the kids," he said.
Regardless of the turnout of today's election, Reinking said, new board members have their work cut out for them. It's unusual for a board to have so many new members starting at the same time, she said.
"We can get to all those things that school boards usually do," she said.
"Is it in our country's interest to keep kids ignorant?"
Can you explain how telling students that there may be intelligent design is keeping kids ignorant? No one proposed eliminating the teaching of the TOE. You are going a little overboard.
If someone's parents believed that gravity only went up 3 miles, or that four times five equalled thirty, or that molecules didn't exist, would education be trampling on their rights?
In the meantime, China and India keep cranking out more scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Is it in our country's interest to keep kids ignorant?
You make some excellent points, and illustrate precisely why this fight is so important. Scientific ignorance is harmful to the future of our nation.
Well, it was a 'theory' that leeches were a medical cure for what ailed George Washington et al. Shall we insist that leeches be used in med school the same way as an alternative 'theory?' After all, it was good enough for the Father of Our Country.
The court made it perfectly clear: the school system has a duty to prevent children from adhering to their parents' beliefs.Or even, like, discussing what they believe, and why, with their children over dinner.Talk about spin! The decision reiterated that public schools are no place to promote any particular religious beliefs. If the parents don't like it, they always have the option of private school.
"Shall we insist that leeches be used in med school the same way as an alternative 'theory?' After all, it was good enough for the Father of Our Country."
Funny you should mention leeches. They ARE used in medicine today. Not to "bleed" patients, as they were with George Washington, but to promote blood flow when severed extremities, like fingers, etc., are reattached.
They work very well at this job.
Which I compared to ID.
but to promote blood flow
Which I am aware of...and it is comparable to evolution in this example, that is, it is based on scientific theory as opposed to a faith-based belief.
"Or even, like, discussing what they believe, and why, with their children over dinner."
So the students can't make up their own minds?
Did the leeches work?
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