Editing Dover, Pennsylvania (section)

==Intelligent design controversy==
Dover received national attention in 2004–05, after the [[Dover Area School District]] voted to include the following statement about [[intelligent design]] in the biology curriculum of its schools:
:The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn about [[Charles Darwin|Darwin's]] Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a standardized test of which [[evolution]] is a part.

:Because Darwin's theory is a [[Evolution as fact and theory|theory]], it continues to be tested as new [[evidence]] is discovered. The theory is not a fact. Gaps in the theory exist for which there is no evidence.

:A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

:Intelligent Design is an explanation of the [[origin of life]] that differs from Darwin's view. 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.

:With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind. The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual students and their families. As a Standards-driven district, class instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proficiency on Standards-based assessments.<ref name=NYTsplits>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/16/us/an-alternative-to-evolution-splits-a-pennsylvania-town.html?pagewanted=3 |title=An Alternative to Evolution Splits a Pennsylvania Town |newspaper=[[NYTimes.com]] |access-date=January 13, 2008 |first=Neela |last=Banerjee |date=January 16, 2005 }}</ref>

:[[Wikisource:Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District#Introduction|Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District (page 1)]]

===Aftermath===
The controversial statement by the school board triggered the court case ''[[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]]'' in late 2005. The case was resolved on December 20, 2005, when Judge [[John E. Jones III]] ruled that the Dover Area School District cannot teach Intelligent Design in a science class room, due to its religious origins. The [[separation of church and state in the United States|separation of church and state]] principle, as derived from the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]], prohibits any government agency from endorsing religious points of view.<ref name=CNNrules>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/20/intelligent.design/index.html |title=Judge rules against 'intelligent design' in science class |publisher=[[CNN.com]] | access-date=January 13, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=BBCban>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4545822.stm |title='Intelligent design' teaching ban |publisher=[[BBC.co.uk]]| access-date=January 13, 2008 | date=December 20, 2005 }}</ref>

In an upset election on November 8, 2005, the eight [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] school board members who voted for the language were all defeated by the challengers from the Dover Cares slate—four Democrats and four Republicans, forced by election rules to run on the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ticket—who opposed the teaching of intelligent design in a science class.<ref name=NYTelection>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/national/10dover.html |title=A Decisive Election in a Town Roiled Over Intelligent Design |newspaper=[[NYTimes.com]] |access-date=January 13, 2008 |first=Laurie |last=Goodstein |date=November 10, 2005 }}</ref>

Over the past few years Dover has incorporated a Comparative Religion course as an elective for students who want to learn more about all the religions of the world.

===Pat Robertson===
Two days after the upset, [[Pat Robertson]] commented on the election results on ''[[The 700 Club]]'':
:I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected Him from your city.<ref name=tribQuote>{{cite web| url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/5323848p-4823394c.html |title=Pat Robertson admonishes town that 'voted God out' |publisher=TheNewsTribune.com |access-date=January 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313182520/http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/5323848p-4823394c.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=March 13, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=foxQuote>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/robertson-god-may-smite-down-town-that-voted-out-anti-evolution-school-board |title=Robertson: God May Smite Down Town That Voted Out Anti-Evolution School Board |publisher=[[FoxNews.com]] |access-date=January 13, 2008 |date=November 11, 2005 }}</ref>
He later revisited his previous warning:
:God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in His eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them.<ref name=tribQuote/><ref name=foxQuote/>