Yes, that was a very interesting development. I got the impression that local voters and taxpayers were quite fed up with the entire debacle, especially when they realized how much of their tax money paid for the school board’s folly which could have been spent on educating the community’s young people.
I have often wondered about the total price tag on the “Dover debacle” which local taxpayers had to bear.
Excellent question. I’ve wondered about that. Did someone order a secretary to make the global-replace edit to the manuscript? Or did a principal co-author blunder through the clumsy edit during a late-night marathon? I suppose we will never know.
Creationists with the specific agenda to get creationism back into the public schools of Dover, Pa ran and got elected. They were financially supported by the Christian Right. The strategy outlined in the wedge document was years in the making. The goal was to get control of school boards across the country.
I don’t know. Who do you think? In court documents, early word processing versions of the Wedge Document were shown. Clearly there was an evolution of the terms used to disguise creationism. I don’t know who invented the term Intelligent Design but the evolution of went from the creator in the Bible to the Intelligent Designer and finally to Intelligent Design.
Yes, it wasn’t just one document. It was a plan, a strategy, national in scope and well funded by the Christian Right. And it hasn’t gone completely away. It is still alive around the country and pops up in many places. FFRF gets over a 1000 complaints a year regarding illegal intrusions of religion into public schools. Enough to keep 11 full time constitutional attorneys very busy.
You’ve mentioned that before and it still amazes me. Of course, I shouldn’t be at all surprised when Alabama (was it Alabama??) just voted in by state-wide referendum a law allowing the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools and other public properties. (I’ve wondered: were voters ignorant of the U.S. Constitution or simply didn’t care?)
I keep having these mental images of an elementary cafeteria where the walls (and ceilings??) are absolutely covered with various religious texts in very fine print—because that was the only way to accommodate all of them! If one allows the Ten Commandments, why not the entire Torah? And the Quran also? The Bhagavad Gita would also be a nice touch. (Of course, I’m being facetious. Small dining halls wouldn’t have enough room. That’s why “Cliff Notes” summaries of each of the world’s sacred texts would make more sense.)
Sadly, many politicians will continue to see such illegal intrusions as a sure way to get votes, regardless of the cost and constitutionality. (Meanwhile, Christian talk radio stations in much of the Bible Belt continue to proudly proclaim: “The separation of church and state is never mentioned in the Constitution! You won’t find it!” Face-palm.)
It is not just in Alabama, it is spread out in all 50 states. Sometimes Pennsylvania is worse than Alabama. Here is one from election day that we are fighting in Utah with the Mormons.
The Dover Area School Board (and therefore local government) was ordered to pay damages and legal fees of about $2 million. This was voluntarily reduced to $1 million in agreement with the new board members, post election which kicked out the old members.
Here is one from election day that we are fighting in Utah with the Mormons.