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support for teaching alternatives to evolu-

es associated with "whiteness," according

tion, state representative Terese Berceau

to the site--had to be taken offline after

decided to introduce a bill in February

people complained for weeks about its

requiring anything taught in a Wisconsin

offensive assertions. Caprice Hollins, the

public school science class to be "testable,"

district's director of equity and race rela-

describe "only natural processes," and be

tions, eventually apologized for the con-

considered "science" as defined by the

troversial content, which she said was not

National Academy of Sciences. Intelligent

intended to "develop an `us against them'

mind-set."201

design, importantly, did not fit the bill, but

Berceau noted that her measure would not

ban discussion of the disputed theory in

Religion

· Mill Creek--The Henry M. Jackson High

the schools, only in science classes. At least

one representative--Debi Towns (R-Janes-

School wind ensemble was all set to play

ville), who chairs the Assembly Education

an instrumental version of "Ave Maria"

Committee, said right away that she would

when Superintendent Carol Whitehead

not support the bill.204

vetoed their selection because it was "reli-

gious in nature." In June, one member of

the ensemble--graduate Kathryn Nurre--

Integration vs. Self-Determination

· Germantown--For two classes each day at

sued Whitehead, claiming the superinten-

dent had trampled on her First Amend-

Kennedy Middle School, some boys only

ment rights. Nurre's mother, Vicki, said

learn with other boys as part of a voluntary

that none of the ensemble members were

all-boys program. The problem is that

trying to make a religious statement. "The

there is no corresponding program for

kids had no agenda when they picked the

girls. It was the boys, though, whom

piece," she said. "It was a piece they loved,

Germantown officials and parents found

it was a piece they played well." Whitehead

accounting for the majority of office refer-

had no comment at the time the suit was

rals, questioning their sense of belonging,

reported.202

and getting poor test scores. "We thought,

`Wow, we've got to do something about

the boys,'" said teacher Kelly Glaser. But

West Virginia

while Germantown hasn't yet run into

Religion

· Charleston--For 30 years a picture of Jesus

trouble for not offering single-sex classes

for girls, one Wisconsin district looking to

hung in Bridgeport High School. In June,

implement an all-boys program has, and

its place in the school was challenged by a

Germantown could be in trouble, too: In

couple who had one child graduate from

the spring of 2006 the state passed a law

the school and who have two more who

allowing schools to offer single-sex cours-

will soon attend it. "I frankly cannot under-

es for boys or girls only as long as "compa-

stand why this school insists that it is

rable" classes were made available for the

doing nothing wrong," said Reverend

other gender.205

Barry Lynn, executive director of Ameri-

cans United for Separation of Church and

State. Despite the suit, the Harrison

Sex Education

· Madison--A bill signed by governor Jim

County school board did not see fit to

remove the picture, with a June vote on the

Doyle in May requires that sex education

matter ending in a tie.203

teachers tell students that abstinence is

the preferred behavior for unmarried

people, though it does not prohibit the

Wisconsin

discussion of birth control. Kelda Helen

Intelligent Design

· Madison--With polls showing increasing

Roys, executive director of NARAL Pro-

52