The New York Times reports on a primary election for school board today in Dover, Pennsylvania which focuses on the teaching of "intelligent design" as an alternative to the theory of evolution. Last fall the Dover school board approved a policy calling for reading to biology students a disclaimer stating that the theory of evolution "is not a fact" and urging students "to keep an open mind". The statement also calls students' attention to the book, Of Pandas and People. Students may leave class when the required disclaimer is read.
A slate of 7 candidates is opposing the current school board that adopted this policy. The primary winners are likely to run unopposed in the fall. The challengers are not proposing that intelligent design be removed from the schools. Instead they are calling for it to be taught in humanities class as a religious concept, instead of in biology. This might in fact lead to intelligent design being given more attention than currently. However, the current board insists that intelligent design be taught in the same course that teaches evolution.
