Published: May 1, 1996

Current Events

Alabama Gov. Fob James Jr. announced recently that he had spent $2,967 in state money on 900 copies of the book Darwin on Trial and sent one to every public school science teacher in the state. The book, which questions evolution theory, was given to teachers as a "resource tool," a spokeswoman for the governor explained. But some see the gesture as part of a push to stifle the teaching of evolution in schools. Last fall, the state school board voted to include a message in new biology textbooks stating that evolution is a theory, not a fact. "If the intention is to stimulate dialogue on what science is, I approve," said Ron Dobson, president of the Alabama Science Teachers Association, of the governor's gift. "But I think the intention is to attack evolution...