Okay remember Vanessa's post on the situation in Dover, PA where the school board was trying to adopt science curriculum that included this notion of "intelligent design." To update, the trial ended on Friday and it is pretty well understood that this decision will have far reaching implications for schools around the country that are having similar "moral" dilemmas.

via SF Chronicle...

Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District was the first legal test for intelligent design. At issue, is whether the policy of the board to incorporate intelligent design into its curriculum was motivated by religious or educational principles. If either the purpose, or the effect, of a public school policy is religious, it would violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which the Supreme Court has interpreted to mandate a separation of church and state.

At issue was a four-paragraph statement adopted by the Dover school board, which was read to ninth-grade biology students as they begin to study the theory of evolution and which says:

"Because Darwin's Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested ... The Theory is not a fact. Gaps exist in the Theory for which there is no evidence ... Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin's view ... Students are encouraged to keep an open mind."

Like religion isn't a theory? All theories are privy to exploration, that is the reality of it. I don't necessarily believe that science is all facts that can't be questioned, it can be questioned, especially with respect to race, class and gender. Understanding this, implementing religious dogma doesn't open space to explain the shortcomings of science, it is just another way to marginalize alternative explanations and create one meaning. Science, like life, is complex, we need space to explore the complexities. These people need to read some Donna Haraway.

Anyway, let's see what the courts rule.

Regardless of how he rules, this trial was the beginning of what will be a protracted battle in the courts sought by Christian conservatives such as defense lawyer Thompson. "We're preparing our case for an ultimate review by the Supreme Court of the United States," Thompson said. He added that President Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito to fill a vacant seat on the high court is "absolutely" encouraging. Senators of both parties who have been meeting with Alito reported he told them he believed the court might have gone too far in separating church and state.

Fuckin ey, let us pray!