What was my favorite part of yesterday's election?


Ah-nold's defeat? Prop. 73's defeat? Democratic Governors? Nope. You may be surprised.

My very favorite election day story is that the entire slate of Dover, Pennsylvania school board members who wanted to allow intelligent design (neé creationism) to be taught as an alternative to evolution in biology class were tossed out on their ear.

Sanity actually still reigns. Some places.

This is particularly sweet because it comes only a day after seeing Professor Stephen Hawking speak at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts. During the audience Q&A someone asked: "what is your opinion of the state of science curriculum today in the US and the UK?"

Now, he could have taken that answer anywhere, but he went right to the political:

"I think curriculum should be determined by what's accepted by the scientific community", he said. That means Darwinism and evolution. Creationism as no place in science class."

He may have been preaching to the converted, the ensuing applause might indicate that, but I admired his no-nonsense, cut to the chase response to a vague question.

And I guess the good folks in Dover, PA would too.

Posted: Wed - November 9, 2005 at 04:55 PM       EmailFeedback

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