Dover Voters Weigh in on Intelligent Design Debate

November 4, 2005

Source: kgw.com

Wire Service: AP

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EVOLUTION_DEBATE?SITE=KGW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

On November 4, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "A biology professor who supports classroom discussion of 'intelligent design' testified Friday that major peer-reviewed scientific journals shun articles on the concept because it is a minority view.

'To endorse intelligent design comes with risk because it's a position against the consensus. Science is not a democratic process,' University of Idaho microbiology professor Scott Minnich said under cross-examination.

Minnich testified on behalf of the Dover Area School Board, which is defending an October 2004 decision to require students to hear a statement about intelligent design before ninth-grade biology lessons on evolution. Teachers opposed the statement, which says Charles Darwin's theory is 'not a fact' and has inexplicable 'gaps,' and refers students to the textbook 'Of Pandas and People' for more information.

Eight families are suing to end the practice, saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state because it essentially promotes the Bible's view of creation... The trial, which began Sept. 26, is being heard without a jury and was expected to conclude with closing arguments Friday afternoon. The judge was not expected to rule immediately."