There’s lots of interesting news on the “evolution in the classroom” and “evolution is just a theory” sticker debate. Here’s a quick roundup:

From The Post and Courier in Charleston, SC, we read:

A Senate subcommittee dropped language from the school book bill Wednesday that called for a committee to determine whether alternatives to evolution should be taught in schools.

“There is no alternative to evolution that is science,” Robert Dillon, a College of Charleston biology professor told a Senate education subcommittee.

Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman said plans for that committee strayed from the bill’s focus on textbooks and classroom materials. He asked that it be dropped from the bill.

Via Jeff Quinton.

The dogmatism of the “no alternatives to evolution that are science” quote was interesting, considering that at least one definition of science is:

a method of learning about the physical universe by applying the principles of the scientific method, which includes making empirical observations, proposing hypotheses to explain those observations, and testing those hypotheses in valid and reliable ways; also refers to the organized body of knowledge that results from scientific study

If you haven’t seen these stickers, which were ordered removed by a federal judge in Atlanta, check ‘em out.

“This is a great day for Cobb County students,” said Michael Manely, an attorney for the parents who sued over the stickers. “They’re going to be permitted to learn science unadulterated by religious dogma.”

…

“The textbook stickers are a reasonable and evenhanded guide to science instruction and encouraging students to be critical thinkers,” the board said.

But the ACLU says, “it’s a theory.”

Six parents and the American Civil Liberties Union then sued, contending the disclaimers violated the separation of church and state and unfairly singled out evolution from thousands of other scientific theories as suspect.

And from an “unlikely place for a revolution,” South Pennsylvania, we read:

The local high school has just become the first in the country to discuss an alternative Darwin’s theory of evolution in class, called Intelligent Design.

The first in the country? Ever? Wow, they must be cutting edge out there in Pennsylvania.

Because Darwin’s Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations. Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin’s view.”

And from Topeka, it looks like we’re full circle back to the sticker thing again.

Conservatives on Wednesday took aim at evolution, proposing to put disclaimer stickers on science textbooks and creating a new hearing process for evolution opponents to challenge its teaching in public schools.

The moves alarmed Leonard Krishtalka, director of Kansas University’s National History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center.

“This is what totalitarian governments do. They try to control what people think rather than allow people to think independently,” Krishtalka said.

So they want a disclaimer emphasizing that evolution is a theory, expressing that there are differing points of view, and this lady from the biodiversity research center is alarmed (!) because to offer other viewpoints would be controlling what people think…. Huh?