Evolution textbooks row goes to court
A suburban American school board found itself in court yesterday after it tried to placate Christian fundamentalist parents by placing a sticker on its science textbooks saying evolution was "a theory, not a fact". Atlanta's Cobb County school board, the second largest board in Georgia, added the sticker two years ago after a 2,300 strong petition attacked the presentation of "Darwinism unchallenged". Some parents wanted creationism - the theory that God created humans according to the Bible version - to be taught alongside evolution. Shortly after the stickers were put on the books, six parents launched a legal challenge, with the support of the the American Civil Liberties Union. It started yesterday. "I'm a strong advocate for the separation of church and state," one of the parents, Jeffrey Selman, told the Associated Press. "I have no problem with anybody's religious beliefs. I just want an adequate educational system."
I hate to say it, but I think the creationists might win this one: they will no doubt claim that they are not promoting religious dogma with their statement. But their statement is only half correct: evolution is a theory, and it is also a fact. Their statement is cleverly aimed at people who don't know the difference between a theory and a hypothesis.
See also: Only a Theory?
Thanks to Leo for the link.
Postscript (Jan-2005): I was wrong, the creationists didn't win.