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LAW OF THE LAND
ACLU battles schools'
warning over evolution
Says textbook stickers veiled attempt
to promote religious dogma

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Posted: November 13, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
 
 

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

Like a warning label on a pack of cigarettes, the Cobb County, Ga., textbook sticker says: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

The Cobb County school board placed the disclaimer on the books two years ago after more than 2,000 parents complained the schools were not teaching about the controversy over evolution among scientists and not informing students of alternative theories.

Yesterday, however, American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Michael Manely, representing parents who sued the suburban Atlanta school district over the textbook labeling, contended the school board is "doing more than accommodating religion. They are promoting religious dogma to all students."

U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper is expected to take at least a month to hand down a ruling.

A biology textbook author testified in the week-long trial, asserting the school is wrongly bringing religion into its teaching by questioning evolution, which he regards as the foundation for much of modern science.

However, a specialist on the legal aspects of teaching evolution maintains the ACLU is twisting the case, making it an issue of motives and not evidence.