'Intelligent Design' Goes on Trial in Pa

The question of whether "intelligent design" amounts to legitimate science, pseudo-science, or religion masquerading as science is undergoing a potentially historic legal test, as a federal court considers whether a public school district can require that students be exposed to the controversial concept. Eleven parents from the Dover district in south-central Pennsylvania are suing to halt a policy that mandates students be told about intelligent design in a 9th grade biology class alongside the theory of evolution. The case stems from the Dover school board's decision a year ago this month to revise the district's science curriculum by requiring that students be made aware of "gaps/problems" in the theory of evolution and be introduced to intelligent design.