Letters to the Editor
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Read the decision, please
The court's decision, totaling 139 pages, is available through cnn's website. I read every page, and recommend it highly to all.
The judge covers every possible ID/school angle in a priceless triumph of wit and legal logic. The broad-ranging decision was obviously written to provide a blueprint for other courts, and to discourage further meddling by the ID crowd in public school science. It's a hilarious yet very informing read that could answer many questions about ID as a 'theory', about evolution's standing with scientists, and what our constitution requires for public schools.
He covers everything from the antecedents, structure and scientific validity of ID (complete with self-defeating testimony from Behe, the most well-known ID 'scientist) to the affect and legality of 'disclaimers and opt-outs' obviously having to do with religion on the students and community, to the dangers of merging the scientific method (inherent in 'science' classes and scientific inquiry) with non-scientific thinking such as ID or 'alternative' texts such as the Panda book. Gems such as the judge's referring to the board's quest to insert creationism in biology class as "breathtaking inanity" and understandably irritated assertions that many of the board members outright lied in court about their real aim to insert religion in science class are sprinkled throughout.
I expected this Bush appointee to give ID the win. Not only did he declare it logically and constitutionally unfit for science class, he did so in a way that other courts will use as a clear model and precedent.
Amen!