Intelligent Design on Trial

On day 1 Dr. Miller said about intelligent design:

Intelligent Design is a new anti-evolution movement that has been presented as an alternative to an older formulation known as "creation science." It argues that an unnamed "designer" must have been responsible for much of the process, although it presents no evidence for the actions of such a designer. Theological explanations may be correct, of course, but they cannot be tested by methods of science and are therefore not science.

On day 2 Callahan, one of the plaintiff in the case, explained the school didn't order biology books because the originally chosen was "laced with Darwinism." She felt as though the school board was placing religious ideology in the schools and trying to influece her daughters religion.

Todays coverage of the Dover Case:

Witness in evolution trial slams school board - MSNBC
The Dover school board showed a clear bias against teaching Darwinian evolution before it voted to require students to be exposed to “intelligent design” in science class, a former board member testified Tuesday.

Former Teacher Testifies in Evolution Case - Technewsworld.com
A former physics teacher testified that his rural school board ignored faculty protests before deciding to introduce the theory of "intelligent design" to high school students.

"I saw a district in which teachers were not respected for their professional expertise," Bryan Rehm, a former teacher at Dover High School, said yesterday.
Evolution teacher testifies - Boston Globe
Robert T. Pennock, a professor of science and philosophy at Michigan State University, testified on behalf of families who sued the Dover Area School District. He said supporters of intelligent design don't offer evidence to support their idea.

"As scientists go about their business, they follow a method," Pennock said. "Intelligent design wants to reject that and so it doesn't really fall within the purview of science."

Witness in Pennsylvania 'intelligent design' trial says school board... - WSVN-TV Miami Beach
Witness in Pennsylvania 'intelligent design' trial says school board ignored science teachers' protests

Anti-evolution bias cited at trial - The Olympian
Aralene "Barrie" Callahan, who was once on the Dover school board and now is among the challengers, said she believed the policy to teach intelligent design was religion-based.

Former teacher sues over 'intelligent design' in school; reporters subpoenaed - Star Tribune
In October 2004, the Dover school board voted 6-3 to require teachers to read a brief statement about intelligent design to students before classes on evolution. The statement says Darwin's theory is "not a fact'' and has inexplicable "gaps,'' and refers students to an intelligent-design textbook for more information.

Prof Testifies in Evolution Debate - SF Gate
The concept of "intelligent design" is a form of creationism and is not based on scientific method, a professor testified Wednesday in a trial over whether the idea should be taught in public schools.

Speaking Freely is the new blog of the ACLU of Pennsylvania with daily updates on the Dover Case.