The Political Correctism Run Amok Files: More Idiocy From The ACLU

Francis, over at L'Ombre de l'Olivier, has written a post about the controversy surrounding the recent court ordered removal of stickers that were pasted into the front of science textbooks in one Georgia school district. Apparently, the effort to remove the offending stickers was spear-headed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Francis writes:

"In a ruling issued in Atlanta, U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper said Cobb County's school board had violated the constitutional ban on the separation of church and state when it put the disclaimers on biology books in 2002.

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."

L'Ombre de l'Oliver did not have a problem with the stickers, as on point of fact Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is just that... a theory. We here at the 'Wonks agree with the sentiments expressed by L'Ombre. The actual wording of the stickers doesn't seem to us to endorse, or even imply, any religious significance at all.

Even though we here at the 'Wonks aren't particularly observant when it comes to religious matters, (WifeWonk and TeenWonk occasionally attend services.) we did not object to the stickers due to the fact that they simply stated to students that the material should approached with "An open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

As citizens, it would seem to us to be a pretty good idea if all concepts (and not just the controversial theories involving The Origin Of Species) were approached in that fashion.

As a classroom teacher, however, I can say that the students probably did not care much about the stickers, one way or another.

The ACLU argued that the placement of the stickers was an act of state-sponsored religion. This is the old tried-and-true "Establishment Clause" argument that the ACLU routinely uses in order to get its way.

For those that may not remember their high school civics class, the First Amendment of The United States Constitution says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

How the ACLU can possibly make a legitimate argument that the placement of the above-referenced stickers in the front of science textbooks could possibly be the "Establishment of religion" sure leaves me scratching my head.

What leaves us here at the 'Wonks even more puzzled is the fact that there is a (supposedly well-educated) United States District District Court Judge out there that agrees with this idiocy.

Update:(01/18) CNN is reporting that the School Board is appealing the decision.

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