Letter: Judge’s words speak for themselves

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 | 8:31 a.m.

University of Colorado law professor Paul Campos, in his Jan. 2 column, claims that Judge John E. Jones III, in the Dover (Pa.) School Board case involving the Intelligent Design (ID) theory, stated that it was illegal for teachers to even mention the existence of a dissenting point of view in a public-school classroom.

What the judge actually stated was, "Nor do we controvert that ID should continue to be studied, debated and discussed. As stated, our conclusion today is that it is unconstitutional to teach ID as an alternative to evolution in a public-school science classroom."

Further, the statement, which school administrators had to read because the teachers refused to, is not as simple as Campos portrays.

Jones noted, "In summary, the disclaimer singles out the theory of evolution for special treatment, misrepresents its status in the scientific community, causes students to doubt its validity without scientific justification, presents students with a religious alternative masquerading as a scientific theory, directs them to consult a creationist text as though it were a science resource, and instructs students to forgo scientific inquiry in the public-school classroom and instead to seek out religious instruction elsewhere."

Lastly, Campos objects to science attempting to explain natural phenomena using only natural causes. He wants science to include supernatural causes, like Intelligent Design. Jones' words about the actions of the Dover School Board come to mind: breathtaking inanity.

Grant Couch

North Las Vegas