<<  <  >  >>

High School. The idea had divided dis-

Jason Meyer. Parent Debbi Ackerman had

trict residents, and brought a very large

a much different response. "We are just

crowd to the school board meeting where

shocked and saddened that it's come to

this and it hit right in our back yard."192

the class was finally approved. Trustee

· Plano--When Fox News personality Bill

Jorge Maldonado attempted to assuage

the fears of many residents that the

O'Reilly erroneously reported in December

course would be an unconstitutional

that students at Plano schools were not

endorsement of religion: "The intent and

allowed to wear red or green clothing dur-

purpose of the course is clearly defined

ing the holiday season, it enraged Plano

and already established to be in compli-

school officials. In an e-mail to O'Reilly,

ance with the First Amendment. The

school district attorney Richard Abernathy

goal of the course is to teach religion in a

said that O'Reilly's reporting "smacks of

way that is purely academic and not

McCarthyism and represents yellow jour-

devotional."195

nalism at its best." It turns out, though,

that while O'Reilly's accusations might not

have been completely accurate, they had

Utah

some grounding in fact: At the time of

Intelligent Design

· Salt Lake City--After saying that he was

O'Reilly's broadcast the district was

involved in a suit brought by a student who

"not willing to continue to get e-mails

said that in 2003 he had been barred from

and faxes from parents saying, `Why are

handing out candy cane pens with reli-

they teaching my kid we evolved from

gious messages. O'Reilly contended that

apes in school as a fact,'" state senator

one of the issues in the suit surrounded

Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan) promised

colors students could wear during the hol-

to do something about it. What he did

idays. Parent Jim Sperry asserted that mis-

was push for legislation that would have

understandings should not be surprising

prohibited teachers from telling stu-

because the district simply doesn't have

dents that they evolved from apes, and

coherent policies when it comes to the hol-

would have required that students be

idays. "Clearly, people are confused when it

told that while there was some evidence

comes to Christmas."193

for the ape-to-man inference, it was not

· Carrollton--In March, a couple filed a

an indisputable fact. Opponents feared

that the bill would open the door to

complaint in federal court after a

teaching intelligent design and religion

teacher supposedly told one of their

in the schools. "We always (try to) sepa-

children to keep quiet during the daily

rate in this state very carefully our reli-

minute of silence because the minute

gious beliefs (from state operations).

was a "time of prayer." Though official-

That general philosophy, it seems to me,

ly the minute of silence instituted in

needs to continue," said state board of

2003 is supposed to allow students to

education chairman Kim Burningham.

engage in any "silent activities," David

In February, a House version of the bill

and Shannon Croft argue that there is

went down in defeat.196

no secular reason for the minute, which

makes it unconstitutional. Kathy Walt,

spokeswoman for Governor Rick Perry,

Homosexuality

· Salt Lake City--In December, state senator

disagreed, saying that "the law does not

set it up specifically as a moment for

Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan) said that

prayer."194

he would introduce legislation to prohib-

· New Braunfels--District trustees approved

it gay-straight alliance clubs in state pub-

lic schools, which he did soon after. The

$60,000 in January to create an elective

legislation created a clash of values. Utah

course on the Bible for New Braunfels

50