In case you missed it, Dover, Pennsylvania has become one of the hotbeds of controversy involving the teaching of intelligent design in our schools.
“Dover’s school board adopted a policy in October 2004 that requires ninth-graders to hear a prepared statement about intelligent design before learning about evolution in biology class.“
After Dover adopted this policy, eight families with children in the system sued on the grounds that the policy violated the concept of seperation of church and state. A ruling is expected by late January in the case.
In the meantime, eight of the nine board members who pushed intelligent design on the district were up for reelection yesterday. All eight are proud Republicans; all eight were ousted and replaced with Democrats.
Nothing will change in the district until the upcoming ruling on the court case, but the people of Dover have spoken, and loudly.
Another ruckus is underway in Kansas, where intelligent design is rearing its ugly head:
“A similar controversy has erupted in Kansas, where the state Board of Education on Tuesday approved science standards for public schools that cast doubt on the theory of evolution. The 6-4 vote was a victory for intelligent design advocates who helped draft the standards.“
Republicans this morning are having to face the fact that bullying the public with extremism just won’t work any more. The Kansas School Board had better take note. The American electorate is mad as hell and yesterday’s elections have put Republicans everywhere on notice: no more bullshit.
When I woke up this morning I anxiously awaited to hear about these school board races. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the people of Dover have booted the Republican thugs out on their asses. Having been a teacher for 25 years, the idea of preaching in school is so disgusting and repugnant to me that I can spit nails when I think about it.
Our Democracy may be under assault like never before from extremist Republican ideology, but it’s still alive and kickin’.
Great news! Apparently the notoriety of this story had a big impact on mobilizing local voters. Thanks for providing the update .
You are so right. In Dover, the notoriety not helped to alert parents, but also taxpayers who were appalled at the cost of a court battle that never should have happened. The more coverage of intelligent design shenanigans, the more wary the electorate will be.
I was so happy and relieved to see that those 8 members were ousted. In my neck of the woods 2 fundamental Christian republican school board candidates failed to win seats last night. Recently the board was taken over by these religious fundamentalists because it is such a poorly understood or publicized election and it was impossible to know by the traditional voter’s guide printed in the local newspaper if they were for things like creationism and abstinence only sex ed….so they got in by getting out the entire congregation of their megachurches while moderates stayed home in droves.
I’m thrilled to hear that the two fundies who ran were defeated. Now that people are becoming more aware of the real damage that fundamentalists can do on a school board, local elections have to get louder on the issue. Extremists are a real threat. People are waking up.
I was so happy when I just heard the news on NPR that I posted my own diary…and then I saw this one. (I deleted mine…)
I live in the faith-based community…I have faith that Rationality and Reason will always win out over dogmatic religion and irrationality.
All politics is local and this proves it!
Let’s make some tsunami waves locally in 2006!
It’s a damn good thing that all politics are local. Today is a day of hope.
That was, by far, the most satisfying result of the evening for me. And there was an 18 year old high school candidate for Mayor in little Hillsdale Michigan who won. I don’t know anything about his politics (I think Hillsdale is arch conservative, but I’m not even sure of that). But I’ll take an 18 year old fundie over a 51 year old fundie any day of the week. Still hope for change. (And I’m not saying he is, I just don’t know).
I think even many of the “arch conservative” communities are feeling undercurrents of change. It was a most satisfying election. Almost cathartic… I know it did wonders for my state of mind!
What does this mean, if anything, for that Santorum?
Great question, AuntiePeachy. My guess is that this discussion of intelligent design in Pa is nothing but trouble for Santorum. The fact is that arrogant Republicans tried to shove a fundie agenda down the people’s throat and they were shown the door.
Pennsylvania voters are becoming educated and hopefully will look differently at candidates who tout their religion as a qualification for office. No one flaunts his religion more than holier than thou Santorum. I’m proud to be from Pa today. I can’t wait until we Pennsylvanians leave our collective boot print on Santorum’s ass.
I don’t know, but driving the other day in SE PA, I saw someone with a bumper sticker that read “Kick Rick Out in 2006”, so I’m thinking his popularity is in tatters.
Now, if we can just replace him with a progressive like Chuck Pennacchio!
This little story put a huge smile on my face.
This is awesome! A victory for science AND a victory for religion… and for church/state separation.
All I can say is THANK GOD the people of PA have shown some good sense!