Dover science teachers refuse to read ID disclaimer

We (my family) just went through a load of crap over the ID issue. Our 15 yo son is home schooled (not because we are opposed to public schools, but because they wanted to put him in the 'alterntative school' so he could learn less at a slower pace).He has flowered in home school, and is now testing above in his grade level (from being two grades below a year ago). As part of his program we send him to classes taught at people's homes in various subjects. One of those was a class in mammal anatomy. The teacher of that class focused her teaching on how perfect all of the organs were because of God's design. She also said that evolution was impossible and told the kids that their parents were wrong if they beleived in evolution.We immediately called IDEA (the Alaska homeschool program that paid for this) and were told she could teach what she wants, they pay for homeschool classes and do not discriminate. So we called the IDEA director. He agreed it was wrong but urged us to just ignore it. We kept pushing and were repeatedly told to stop. At one point we were told that they spoke to the teacher involved and she said that she would not stop teaching creationism. The IDEA program continued to fund her. So we called the ACLU here in Alaska. One letter from them and they dropped her like a hot potato. She maintains her program, but no longer has state funding. A rare victory for reason, although now we are assholes to a good number of Juneauites (we changed our phone number and made it unlisted, Christian goodwill my ass).I would like to sieze this opportunity to let Xevolutionist know that his argument has been left open at a new topic here: Evolution wins Part 2

Thanks Schraf!One of the more difficult parts of this thing was dealing with people who were on our side but believed, like Syamsu, that we were making an issue out of it rather than just letting it go. I am afraid that a lot of these battles never get off of the ground because people take the "those wacky creos, they never quit" attitude and then let it go.I will give this teacher credit and respect on one issue. When asked about the class she admitted saying everything. When given a choice to stop using the class to teach ID and keep state funding she refused. Our fear was that she would agree and just keep doing it. Ours was the first complaint even though she has been teaching for several years (I suspect that there aren't a lot of biologist parents with kids in home school). So I admire her honesty and I completely agree that she has every right to teach this material, but not with state funds.As for my son... He did question her on a comment that evolution was impossible (he said that his dad was a evolutionary biologist) and she told him his dad was wrong because the organs of any animal function in tandem and could never have evolved. He doesn't like confrontation and dropped the issue but told us about it immediately. I would have been content just talking to her but she refused to speak with me. My son was actually pissed at me for making an issue out of it because he thinks that some of the other kids now treat him differently. I sympathize with his feelings but feel the larger picture is at risk.This message has been edited by Lithodid-Man, 02-06-2005 19:26 AMThis message has been edited by Lithodid-Man, 02-06-2005 19:27 AM

---

Doctor Bashir: "Of all the stories you told me, which were true and which weren't?"
Elim Garak: "My dear Doctor, they're all true"
Doctor Bashir: "Even the lies?"
Elim Garak: "Especially the lies"

Honestly Holmes the issue with my son is far more superficial, I believe. I am in the unfortunate position of being the parent of a teenager.Right or wrong I am always wrong. He acknowledges that the teacher was incorrect, but he is still mad that we pointed it out publically. I hope that someday he will understand why it was important.Parents of teens will understand my plight. I understand why natural selection has made it a bad thing to just eat them when they hit a certain age. Else our species would have gone extinct some time ago. Teenagers of either sex are incomprehensible to me. To the best of my recollection I went from child to adult and bypassed any nasty intermediary phase. (with the notable exception of me exiting a Kennedys show with my 12 inch mohawk in 1983 with a photo that appeared in the Bremerton Sun and almost killed my dad).

---

Doctor Bashir: "Of all the stories you told me, which were true and which weren't?"
Elim Garak: "My dear Doctor, they're all true"
Doctor Bashir: "Even the lies?"
Elim Garak: "Especially the lies"

Hey! Are you really Alaska Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman? Sounds remarkebly like him....You cannot be serious! First of all funding for education is such a relative small percentage of what our taxes are that removing it altogether would barely be noticeable. There are other, big big government expenses that are much more costly than education (and apparently have a higher priority).

---

Doctor Bashir: "Of all the stories you told me, which were true and which weren't?"
Elim Garak: "My dear Doctor, they're all true"
Doctor Bashir: "Even the lies?"
Elim Garak: "Especially the lies"