<<  <  >  >>

ing that his free speech rights had been vio-

Said Bend La-Pine School Board member

lated.

Brian Gatley, "a number of scientists are

To many observers, Trosch's punish-

looking at intelligent design, and I see no

ment did not fit the crime, if there was any

reason to not have it brought into

school."174

"crime" at all. "Kids are making fun of the

principal every day," said Paul Houston,

executive director of the American Associ-

Pennsylvania

ation of School Administrators. "You just

Intelligent Design

· Dover--In December, federal judge John

have to take it. You're a lightning rod for

that sort of thing." The Hermitage School

E. Jones III ruled that a Dover school

District, however, contended that Lay-

district policy requiring biology stu-

schock's actions created a "substantial dis-

dents to be told that Darwinian evolu-

ruption" for the school, something for

tion is a theory, not a fact, and directing

which Supreme Court precedent says a

them to the intelligent design book Of

school can punish a student, even if the

Pandas and People, was unconstitutional.

student was exercising free speech.176

Jones stated clearly in his ruling that he

found intelligent design to be "a reli-

gious view, a mere re-labeling of cre-

Multiculturalism

· Upper St. Clair--With at least one school

ationism, and not a scientific theory."

Despite the closure Jones' ruling

board member asserting that the Inter-

might have brought to the people of

national Baccalaureate program violates

Dover, who had been fighting over the

"Judeo-Christian" values, and with national

policy since it was adopted in October,

critics suggesting that IB is anti-American,

2004, a great deal of social and personal

in February the Upper St. Clair school dis-

damage had already been done by the

trict cut its IB program. IB is coordinated by

dispute. Many Dover citizens were so

the International Baccalaureate Organi-

divided by the policy, in fact, that they

zation in Switzerland and is generally con-

refused even to speak to neighbors who

sidered to be very rigorous.

held different opinions than their own

Reaction against the board's move

about the teaching of evolution.175

was loud and swift, with numerous resi-

dents begging it to reinstate the academ-

ically challenging program. In March, a

Freedom of Expression

· Mercer County--In December, using his

group of parents sued the district and the

five board members who voted to cut the

grandmother's computer, 17-year-old

program, claiming that the members

Justin Layshock created a parody MySpace.

axed IB to retaliate against residents who

com profile of his principal, Eric W. Trosch.

opposed their election the year prior.

The profile made fun of Trosch's size and

They also claimed that the members

used some profanity, but was not threaten-

wanted to impose their religious and

ing in any way. In other words, other than

political beliefs on the district.

being a little distasteful and maybe mean,

At the end of April, the IB supporters

there was nothing illegal or dangerous

got their wish: The school board voted to

about what Layshock posted. Yet, when he

reinstate the program for at least two years.

owned up to creating the profile--there

Board president William M. Sulkowski

were three other, more offensive profiles

suggested, however, that the board had not

for the principal that Layshock said he did

changed its attitude concerning IB, only

not create--he was given a 10-day out-of-

that financial pressures caused by the law-

school suspension and moved to an alter-

suit forced the change. "This agreement

native education program. Layshock filed a

does not imply that the board's February

suit against the district in February, charg-

45