The ACLU is at it again, this time in Cobb County, Georgia.   (See the Discovery Institute press release below for details).   At best, it sounds like the school district is lukewarm in defending themselves.  At worse, this could be a "set up" deal, much as the ACLU did with the original Scopes trial.   Yes, the ACLU instigated that one, too.

 

For Texans, you should be reminded that existing Texas law requires that both "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories and hypotheses be presented to students, including evolution.  This  requirement applies to classroom teachers and school districts, regardless of what their particular textbook content may be.  If your child is not being taught weaknesses, but is being taught strengths of evolution theories exclusively, you may want to contact your local teacher and school district administration and board about fulfilling Texas law.  

 

Last, if you have friends in Georgia, you might want to alert them. 

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Mark Ramsey

Texans for Better Science Education
www.strengthsandweaknesses.org 

Additional information on this particular case may be found at: http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2293 and: http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2289 

 -----Original Message-----
FOR RELEASE NOV.  9, 2004 

Press Contact: Rob Crowther

Discovery Institute

(206) 292-0401 x.107

rob@discovery.org

 

 

Why Isn’t Cobb Co. School District ’s Attorney Mounting More Vigorous Defense? Asks Legal Expert

 

Nov. 9, 2004 – The actions of the Cobb Co. School District ’s attorney Linwood Gunn are being publicly questioned by legal experts wondering why he is not mounting a more aggressive defense of his client.

 

“The ACLU called a noted scientist to the stand during the first day of the trial, and the School District ’s attorneys have decided not to have any scientists serve as rebuttal witnesses,” says Seth Cooper, an attorney with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture.  “This is a blunder of the first order.  The testimony of a scientist should never go unanswered by a scientist if the defense mounted by Gunn is to be considered a serious one.” 

 

Two dozen scientists in the state of Georgia alone have signed an amicus brief acknowledging the importance of students learning about the scientific controversy over neo-Darwinian and chemical evolutionary theories. 

 

“It appears that, because of the Gunn’s failure to call expert witnesses the Judge will not get to hear directly from these scientists,” says Cooper. “If I was a parent in Cobb Co., I’d be wondering why this attorney is not doing more to protect the school district from censorship. If I were a teacher in the district, I’d give him a failing grade.”

 

“The future of academic freedom could be at stake in this trial’s outcome and a vigorous defense of the sticker’s constitutionality would help ensure an outcome which reaffirms the rights of students and teachers to discuss the scientific controversy surrounding neo-Darwinian and chemical evolutionary theories,” adds Cooper.  “Sadly, it seems that the defense mounted thus far puts these rights at risk.”

 

For more information please visit Discovery's Georgia Resource page .

 

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About Seth Cooper

Seth Cooper is an attorney and Program Officer, Public Policy & Legal Affairs for Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture.

 

About Discovery Institute

Discovery Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy, think tank which promotes ideas in the common sense tradition of representative government, the free market and individual liberty. Current projects include: technology, the economy, science and culture, regional transportation, and the bi-national region of "Cascadia."  http://www.discovery.org/.

 

 

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