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 By Jack Lepiarz Dec. 21, 2005 Atheists will have something to cheer about, and someone to cheer for, as Judge John E. Jones ruled against putting intelligent design into public school curriculums. He defended his stance saying that the theory of evolution "represents good science, is overwhelmingly accepted by the scientific community, and that it in now way conflicts with, nor does it deny, the existence of a divine creator." He spoke more harshly towards the Dover Board of Education, calling their attempts to get intelligent design into school curriculums, "A pretext for the Board's real purpose, which was to promote religion in the public school classroom, in violation of the Establishment Clause." Jones further explained that the trial had given him "overwhelming evidence" showing that intelligent design was nothing more than a religious view--not science. He said that while intelligent design "may be true," he also added that it was, "a proposition on which the court takes no position. Intelligent design is not science." The school system has delivered statements saying that it will not appeal the ruling, since all eight members who backed intelligent design had since been replaced with new members who were opposed to it. Bernadette Reinking, the new board president, said that, "The board intends to remove intelligent design from the science curriculum and place it in an elective social studies class. As far as I can tell you, there is no intent to appeal." Eric Rothschild, the attorney for the families challenging the policy, was not in agreement. He called it a "vindication for the parents who had the courage to stand up and say there was something wrong in their school district." Former board member, William Buckingham echoed similar complaints, "I'm still waiting for a judge or anyone to show me anywhere in the Constitution where there's a separation of church and state. We didn't lose; we were robbed." Judge Jones, a churchgoing Republican, said that he made his decision based on whether he thought it was science or not. He even argued that intelligent design may very well be true. However, it, like creationism, cannot go into science classrooms because it relies on flawed or unbased claims of an omnipotent being. "The students, parents, and teachers of the Dover Area School District deserved better than to be dragged into this legal maelstrom, with its resulting utter waste of monetary and personal resources." ------------ About the author: Jack Lepiarz is a senior at Madison High School. Born in Waco, Texas, he lived with the Big Apple Circus for much of his early childhood, eventually moving to Madison, New Jersey, where he now resides. Although he is often described as stubborn and egotistical, he tries to keep an open-mind towards new ideas and treat people the way he would like to be treated. Email: Jackwuzhere42@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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