 |
In December 2003, local Baptist minister Curtis Brickley distributed
handbills to the 754 residents of Darby, Montana inviting them to a "town
meeting" about the teaching of evolution in Darby schools. Two hundred
people from Darby and the surrounding Ravalli County attended the PowerPoint
presentation by Brickley challenging the theory of evolution and introducing
Intelligent Design. Within days, local students, teachers, parents and
concerned residents rallied to defend the teaching of evolution in the
schools and prevent the introduction of Intelligent Design into the curriculum.
The following articles trace the beginnings of the grassroots movement
to include Intelligent Design in the schools’ science curriculum
and the subsequent response from the community.
Darby
Meeting to Discuss Teaching Intelligent Design, by Jenny Johnson,
Ravalli Republic, December 9, 2003
Intelligent
Design Presentation Draws Hundreds, by Jenny Johnson, Ravalli
Republic, December 9, 2003
Engineering
Intelligent Design in Darby Schools, by Josh Mahan, Missoula Independent,
December 23, 2003
Opponents
of Origin Theories Plan Presentation, by Jenny Johnson, Ravalli
Republic, January 20, 2004
In February of 2004, the Darby school board approved in a 3-2 vote a
policy that would encourage teachers to teach criticisms of the theory
of evolution. Although board members did not specify a new curriculum,
critics of the "objective origins" policy argued that it would
allow the introduction of religion into the science classroom. Prior to
their approval of the "objective origins" policy the board had
been warned that such a measure would make the board vulnerable to lawsuits.
The actions by the board resulted in protests on a local and state level
and one couple filed a lawsuit protesting that the policy will "direct
Darby science teachers to present to our children as scientific what are
in fact religious teachings, thus establishing government sponsored religion
in our school." The following articles illustrate the reactions both
for and against the school board's decision.
Darby
Schools OK 'Objective Origins,' by Michael Moore, The Missoulian,
February 3, 2004
State
Education Chief: Darby School Policy Not Science, Associated Press,
pubished in Billings Gazette, February 3, 2004
Darby
School Board Prepares for Potential Lawsuit; Meeting Set with Lawyer,
by Jenny Johnson, Ravalli Republic, February 23, 2004
Darby
Couple Readies 'Objective Origins' Lawsuit, by Michael Moore, The
Missoulian, March 3, 2004
Objective
Origins Policy Will Be Challenged, by Rod Miner and Martha Stomberg,
Ravalli Republic, March 4, 2004
Protesters Voice Concern at Darby School Board Meeting, by Jenny Johnson,
Ravalli Republic, April 7, 2004
Speaker
of the House Supports Darby Objective Origins, by Jenny Johnson, Ravalli
Republic, April 14, 2004
The "objective origins" policy proved to be a contentious
issue in the Darby school board election. The race originally included
three candidates who opposed the policy and two candidates in support
of the policy. After one of the anti-"objective origins" candidates
withdrew from the race, voters overwhelmingly elected the remaining two
anti-"objective origins" candidates. Prior to the election the
board hired a new superintendent in a closed proceeding, sparking more
criticism. Although the board stated that candidate's views on theory
of evolution were not a factor, the new superintendent has publicly supported
the "objective origins" policy. The following articles highlight
the superintendent selection process and the Darby school board elections.
School
Board Candidate Withdraws from Race, open letter by Bill LaCriox,
printed in Ravalli Independent, April 27, 2004
School
Board Candidate Says Parents Must Be Responsible, by Jerome Tharaud,
Havre Daily News, April 27, 2004
Candidate
Puts Emphasis on Better Education, Teacher Pay, by Jerome Tharaud,
Havre Daily News, April 27, 2004
Board
Member Cites Experience in Her Run for Another Term, by Jerome Tharaud,
Havre Daily News, April 28, 2004
Board
Candidate Wants Public More Involved in Budget Cuts, by Jerome Tharaud,
Havre Daily News, April 29, 2004
Intelligient
Design and the Theory of Evolution, by Kathy Witkowsky, National
Public Radio, May 2, 2004
Darby
Hires Superintendent; Public Comments Question Credentials, by Jenny
Johnson, Ravalli Republic, May 5, 2004
Darby
Rejects 'Objective Origins' Supporters, by Michael Moore, The
Missoulian, May 5, 2004
Darby's "objective origins" policy is poised to shift from
a local to state level as both Republican candidates for State Superintendent
voiced their support for the policy. The incumbent candidate, Democrat
Linda McCulloch had threatened to revoke the Darby County school system's
accreditation if the objective origins policy had been approved. The following
section will examine the shift of the "objective origins" controversy
from a local to state issue as it affects the race for State Superintendent.
Candidates
Say Schools Have Right to Question Evolution, by Walt Williams, Bozeman
Daily Chronicle, May 29, 2004
McCulloch,
Anderson Big Winners in State School Superintendent Primaries, Associated
Press, pubished in Billings Gazette, June 9, 2004
The Darby School Board ended the evolution controvery in a 3-2 vote in
July, ruling that teachers would not be required to teach critiques of
evolution or present alterative hypotheses. The ruling came after a school
board election in which voters elected two representatives who campaigned
on an anti-"objective origin" platform.
Darby
School Board Puts Objective Origins to Rest, by Jenny Johnson, Ravalli
Republic, July 7, 2004
|
|
