The Most Watched School Board Election in the Country
Yes, it's true - the Dover Area school board was swept out of office in yesterday's election. Eight of the nine board members were up for re-election, and all were defeated. Board member Alan Bonsell, who was one of the driving forces behind the addition of "intelligent design" to the science curriculum, received the least amount of votes, according to newspaper reports.
Here are some links to stories about the election. Unfortunately I haven't actually been able to read the York Daily Record story yet - their server seems to be overloaded with hits at the moment.
Washington Post Pennsylvania Voters Oust School Board
New York Times Evolution Slate Outpolls Rivals
York Daily Record story
As someone in our office pointed out, this is great timing for the movie. Believe it or not, Paramount actually sent a representative to observe the trial. They are thinking of making it into a movie. Of course, we've already started thinking about casting. (Rumor has it one of our lawyers wants to be played by George Clooney.)
Here are some links to stories about the election. Unfortunately I haven't actually been able to read the York Daily Record story yet - their server seems to be overloaded with hits at the moment.
Washington Post Pennsylvania Voters Oust School Board
New York Times Evolution Slate Outpolls Rivals
York Daily Record story
As someone in our office pointed out, this is great timing for the movie. Believe it or not, Paramount actually sent a representative to observe the trial. They are thinking of making it into a movie. Of course, we've already started thinking about casting. (Rumor has it one of our lawyers wants to be played by George Clooney.)
posted by ACLU of Pennsylvania at 11/09/2005 09:51:00 AM
17 Comments:
The thing will never go to Hollywood as they won't be able to find an actor anywhere willing to play Alan. Haha.
Tom Cruise might be a better choice than George Clooney for at least one of our attorneys.
You know, now I have visions of a hollywood casting call for ACLU-PA staff.
Brad Pitt -- ACLU PA President
Bea Arthur -- Pittsburgh Associate Director
Reese Witherspoon -- Philadelphia Associate Director
Harvey Firestein -- Legislative Director
Alfre Woodard -- Finance Director
(and you wonder why I comment anonymously)
Wallace Shawn would HAVE to play one of the school board members....
I believe the link to the York Daily Record is incorrect. It should be ydr.com/story/politics/93824.
Wait, maybe Woody Allen could play Alan. We have a cast!
To those of us not in the area, it's hard to judge whether the loss suffered by the existing Dover school board was a slight or a significant shift in what would otherewise be expected. Does anyone have a record of the results when the anti-evolution crowd were (last) elected?
To everyone involved in the trial and the school board campaign: Thanks for making it worthwhile getting up in the morning these past months. So much death and destruction, and ignorance. You have done and are doing might battle with the last and we all thank you. Eight out of nine! Incredible.
Catherine from Cleveland Heights
There's a good diary here that proposes a way to handle states like Kansas, with a view to the board change in Dover. It's an idea I've personally advocated from the beginning, and honestly, I think is the most promising method for shining a glaring light on the fundie crowd. Enjoy.
Alan Bonsell could be played by Zero Mostel, mainly because Alan is a Zero.
Oh, Zero Mostel is dead. Well, so is "intelligent design." It could work.
Cantankerous Bitch said...
There's a good diary here that proposes a way to handle states like Kansas, with a view to the board change in Dover. It's an idea I've personally advocated from the beginning, and honestly, I think is the most promising method for shining a glaring light on the fundie crowd. Enjoy.
I'm just not convinced 'the controversy' is really all that appropriate at the high school level, even in a comparative religion course.
Then you've got the sticky issue that creationism isn't so much an theoretical idea as it is an anti-theory. (it's strongest arguments remain the basic weaknesses Darwin himself pointed out in Origin of Species.
That writer is correct in the sense that the truth has nothing to fear from a free and open exchange of ideas. And that fundies expose themselves at great peril by begging for such.
As a matter of pragmatism, I can see regular school faculty fearing job security and avoiding the material like the plague, and school boards sympathetic to the cause hiring on 'specialists' whose sole job is to prosthel..., er, teach ID throughout an entire district.
In other words, I'm doubtful the reality would prove to be as free and open of an exchange as could be hoped for, as you are more likely to see at the university level.
I've changed my mind. Sir Ian McKellan should play our legislative director. I was thinking about wit, but sir ian has the distinguished presence of a lobbiest.
And the Executive Director should be played by Angela Lansbury.
I don't know the outgoing members of the Dover school board, but I'm sure Bruce Willis can play one of them. And we might consider Timothy Spall (Wormtail from Goblet of Fire) and Alan Rickman for various board members.
Allen Bonsell should be played by Jonny English.
This is fun! How about:
Judge Jones - Samuel L Jackson
Bert Spahr - Susan Sarandon
Max Pell - Orlando Bloom
Richard Nilsen - Martin Sheen
Sinister DI Official - Alan Rickman
We have yet to cast the most important people -- our Pub Ed staff who did an amazing job with the blog. At first I was going to suggest Huey, Dewey and Louie, but that seemed wrong. I do think animation would add a certain something to the movie, so I suggest the Triplets of Belleville. It even has bicycles!
Does anyone know how to reach Elmer Fudd? Seems to me, there should be some work for him somewhere in this project.
Does anyone know how to reach Elmer Fudd? Seems to me, there should be some work for him somewhere in this project.
Oops. Sorry.
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