By Kristina Torres
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/12/04

The arguments have been made, and now a judge must decide: Do disclaimers Cobb County stuck in its science textbooks two years ago - calling evolution a “theory, not a fact” - violate the principle of separation between church and state?

After three days of testimony in a lawsuit seeking to rid the school system of the disclaimers, Cobb schools attorney Linwood Gunn said Friday if the school system’s plan was to promote religion, “it’s a colossal failure.”

Attorney Michael Manely, in his own closing arguments for the six parents who brought the suit, countered that the disclaimers are religiously motivated. He compared them to cigarette warnings, saying they question how valid science’s answer is to the origins of man.

U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Cooper gave no date but said he will make his ruling as soon as possible.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/09/04

Witnesses at the evolution trial are listed in the order they testified:

Tuesday

* Joseph Redden, Cobb County superintendent of schools, who did not agree science textbooks needed the disclaimers, but was overruled by the school board.

* Lindsey Tippins, chairman, Cobb County board of education, which unanimously approved the disclaimer stickers in 2002.

* Jeffrey Selman, one of the Cobb County parents suing to get the stickers removed.

* Carlos Moreno, Emory University professor who organized petition protesting the disclaimer stickers.

* Teresa Plenge, Cobb County school board member.

* Betty Gray, Cobb County school board member.

Monday

* Marjorie Rogers, Cobb County parent who organized initial petition that led to the disclaimers in 2002.

* Wes McCoy, North Cobb High School science chairman.

* Kenneth Miller, Brown University professor and author of Biology textbook used in Cobb that has the sticker. Against the disclaimers.

* Laura Searcy, Cobb County school board member.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/09/04

The latest on the evolution trial taking place at U.S. District Court in Atlanta.

* What’s at stake: A federal judge will decide whether stickers that say evolution is “a theory, not a fact” can remain in science textbooks used by Cobb County middle and high schoolers.

* The latest: Cobb County Superintendent Joseph Redden testified that he did not want the stickers placed in the textbooks, but was overruled by the school board. Board chairman Lindsey Tippins and others testified that they believe the stickers, which were approved unanimously, give students the freedom to discuss ideas of how humans came to be. Witnesses acknowledged that those ideas could include the ideas of “creationism” or “intelligent design.”

By Kristina Torres
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/09/04

Testimony has ended in federal court in the lawsuit over evolution disclaimers in Cobb County science textbooks. Closing arguments are expected Friday morning.

Six parents have sued to remove the disclaimers, arguing that the stickers placed on the front inside cover of the textbooks cross the assumed separation of church and state. The plaintiffs contend the disclaimers expose students to “alternatives” to evolution that are considered unscientific — and religious — by most scientists.

November 8, 2004
By The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A sticker in suburban Atlanta science textbooks that says evolution is “a theory, not a fact” was challenged in court Monday as an unlawful promotion of religion.

U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper began hearing arguments in the case brought by six parents and the Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The trial is expected to last four days.

Cobb County school officials adopted the disclaimer after science textbooks it adopted in 2002 were criticized by some parents for presenting evolution as fact. More than 2,000 people signed a petition opposing the biology texts because they did not discuss alternative theories, including creationism.

County school officials said their stickers simply encourage students to keep an open mind, but the lawsuit claims the warning promotes the teaching of creationism and discriminates against particular religions.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that creationism was a religious belief that could not be taught in public schools along with evolution.

The stickers read: “This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.”

“I’m a strong advocate for the separation of church and state,” said one of the parents, Jeffrey Selman. “I have no problem with anybody’s religious beliefs. I just want an adequate educational system.”

A lawyer for Cobb County schools, Linwood Gunn, said he expects the disclaimer will hold up in court. He said the stickers “improve the curriculum while also promoting an attitude of tolerance for those that have different religious beliefs.”

Trial Begins Over Ga. Evolution Disclaimer
By The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A trial opened Monday over whether a warning sticker in suburban Atlanta biology textbooks that says evolution is “a theory, not a fact” violates the separation of church and state by promoting religion.

The case is one of several battles that have been waged in recent years in the Bible Belt over what role evolution should play in science books.

Cobb County schools put the disclaimers in biology texts two years ago after more than 2,000 parents complained the books presented evolution as fact without mentioning rival ideas about the origin of life, namely creationism.

A group of parents and the American Civil Liberties Union then filed a lawsuit over the stickers. “It’s like saying everything that follows this sticker isn’t true,” said Jeffrey Selman, a parent who filed the lawsuit.

The sticker reads, “This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.”

A lawyer for the school district, Linwood Gunn, said the sticker was meant to “encourage critical thinking” and said it did not imply that evolution was wrong. Gunn said it was silly to consider the stickers a promotion of religion.

“It doesn’t say anything about faith. It doesn’t say anything about religion,” he said.

But U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper asked Gunn why it is necessary to have a sticker clarify evolution as a theory. “Why put a sticker on the book when that’s already in the book?”

Gunn replied that school board members were simply trying to accommodate all views.

The first witness, parent Marjorie Rogers, started the drive to put the stickers in the books. She said it was only fair to put a small disclaimer in a textbook where religious-based ideas about the origin of life are not mentioned.

“I don’t want the Bible taught in the classroom. But there is a wealth of science that would support intelligent design, and that is not taught,” she said. “There should be a marketplace of ideas.”

The judge also heard from a science teacher who said some students point to the sticker and argue evolution is “just a theory.” The sticker “diminishes the status of evolution among all other theories,” said teacher Wes McCoy. “I was worried. I didn’t want college admission counselors thinking less of their science educations, thinking they hadn’t been taught evolution or something.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that creationism was a religious belief that could not be taught in public schools along with evolution.The theory of evolution says evidence shows current species of life evolved over time from earlier forms and that natural selection determines which species survive. Creationism credits the origin of species to God.

The trial, which will be decided by the judge, is expected to last several days.