Remarks on `Intelligent Design' Theory Fuel
Choice Wisconsin, was less than satisfied
Debate," Washington Post, August 3, 2005.
with the bill. "They ignored the over-
whelming public testimony, support and
8. Greg Moran, "Student Fights Write-Up for
Showing U.S. Flag," San Diego Union Tribune, April 13
expert information about the impor-
2006.
tance of comprehensive sex education
that talks about abstinence as well as
9. Gina Davis, "Teen Maintains Stance against
contraceptive use," she said. "Abstinence
Disputed Books," Baltimore Sun, January 25, 2006.
is an important part but it is not the only
10. Holly Hollman, "Forbidden Reading," Decatur
part."206
Daily News, April 17, 2005.
11. Teresa Watanabe, "A Textbook Debate over
Notes
Hinduism," Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2006.
1. Paul D. Houston, "Pinata Beaters and the Rush
12. Sam Dillon, "Law to Segregate Omaha Schools
toward Narrow Self-Interest," School Administrator,
Divides Nebraska," New York Times, April 15, 2006.
January 1998.
13. Lori Aratani, "Left Off Sex-Ed Panel, Group
2. Benjamin R. Barber, "Public Schooling: Education
Weighs Lawsuit," Washington Post, October 25, 2005.
for Democracy," in The Public Purpose of Education and
Schooling, ed. John I. Goodlad and Timothy J.
14. Colleen Sparks, "School Board Postpones
McMannon (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1997) p.
Vote on Sex-Ed Changes," Arizona Republic, June
22.
29, 2006.
3. Matthew I. Pinzur and Elinor J. Brecher,
15. Tracy Jan, "Parents Rip School over Gay
"Miami-Dade Schools Ban Book on Cuba," Miami
Storybook," Boston Globe, April 20, 2006.
Herald, June 15, 2006.
16. Bob Bernick and Jennifer Toomer-Cook, "Buttars
4. It would not be practical to list stories from
Wants to Prohibit Gay Clubs," Deseret Morning News,
local newspapers all over the country, but just a
December 15, 2005.
few statewide reports give a good indication
about widespread contentiousness at local levels.
17. "Tangipahoa Parish School Board Prayer Issue
New Jersey, for instance, saw only 53 percent of
Heard Today," New Orleans CityBusiness, February
school district budgets passed by voters last year
8, 2006.
(John Mooney, "Voters Reject Nearly Half of
School Budgets, Star-Ledger, April 20, 2006).
18. Joshua Zumbrun, "Board Might Continue
Similarly, many Kentucky and Florida districts
Muslims' Early Release," Washington Post, June 22,
experienced fights over what time of the year to
2006.
start school (William Croyle, "Back to School So
Soon?" Cincinnati Enquirer, August 10, 2006, and
19. Maricella Miranda, "Christian Group Threatens
Lloyd Dunkelberger, "Schools Face Pressure to
Suit," St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 2, 2005.
Start Later," The Ledger, November 27, 2005).
20. Patrick Jonsson, "Georgia May OK Bible as
5. In 2003, for instance, the Cody school board
Textbook," Christian Science Monitor, March 27,
changed district policy concerning holiday celebra-
2006.
tions to make them more "inclusive," after having
received several complaints in past years. Also in
21. Thomas Jefferson, "A Bill for the More General
2003, at a very contentious school board meeting,
Diffusion of Knowledge," Jefferson: Writings, comp.
the Worland district approved a policy allowing the
Merrill D. Peterson (The Library of America, 1984),
teaching of alternatives to evolution in science class-
p. 365.
es (American Institute of Biological Sciences,
22. Quoted in Wayne J. Urban and Jennings L.
"Creationism Infiltrates Wyoming Schools," Public
Wagoner Jr., American Education: A History, 3d ed.
Policy Report, September 29, 2003, www.aibs.org
(Boston: McGraw Hill, 2004), p. 76.
/public-policy-reports/public-policy-reports-
2003_09_29.html).
23. Ibid., pp. 7778.
6. "Pa. Neighbors Feud over Darwin, `Design,'"
24. Carl F. Kaestle, Pillars of the Republic: Common
ABC News Nightline, January 18, 2005.
Schools and American Society, 17801860 (New York:
Hill and Wang, 1983), pp. 18384.
7. Quoted in Peter Baker and Peter Slevin, "Bush
53