![]() Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' cause of action arising under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to 28 U.S.C. In addition, the power to issue declaratory judgments is expressed in 28 U.S.C. This Court's jurisdiction arises under 28 U.S.C. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief, nominal damages, costs, and attorneys' fees. It is contended that the ID Policy constitutes an establishment of religion prohibited by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On December 14, 2004, Plaintiffs filed the instant suit challenging the constitutional validity of the Octoresolution and Novempress release (collectively, "the ID Policy"). As a Standards-driven district, class instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proficiency on Standards-based assessments. The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life, to individual students and their families. With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind. The reference book, Of Pandas and People, is available for students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what Intelligent Design actually involves. Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin's *709 view. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn about Darwin's Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a standardized test of which evolution is a part.īecause Darwin's Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new evidence is discovered. On November 19, 2004, the Defendant Dover Area School District announced by press release that, commencing in January 2005, teachers would be required to read the following statement to students in the ninth grade biology class at Dover High School: Students will be made aware of gaps/problems in Darwin's theory and of other theories of evolution including, but not limited to, intelligent design. ![]() On October 18, 2004, the Defendant Dover Area School Board of Directors passed by a 6-3 vote the following resolution: Turo, Turo Law Offices, Carlisle, PA, for Defendants. ![]() White, III, Julie Shotzbarger, Patrick T. Walczak, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA, for Plaintiffs.Įdward L. Schmidt III, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Harrisburg, PA, Mary Catherine Roper, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Paula Kay Knudsen, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, Witold J. Mather, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia, PA, Thomas B. Luchenitser, Americans United for Speparation of Church and State, Washington, DC, Eric J. DOVER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al., Defendants. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |