The policy, proposed by a Darby minister whose children do not yet attend the schools, "encourages" Darby science teachers to teach criticisms of prevailing scientific theory, but the only theory identified by the policy is evolutionary theory.
Voting for the policy were board members Doug Banks, Elisabeth Bender and board chairwoman Gina Schallenberger. Voting against were Mary Lovejoy and Bob Wetzsteon.
Elizabeth Kaleva, the board's attorney through her position as the attorney for the Montana School Boards Association, had previously urged the board to come up with a proposed curriculum for "objective origins" and submit it to the state for approval. Kaleva had also warned the board that it would likely be sued over such a policy by groups or individuals that believe that "objective origins" is a catch phrase for putting religion into science class.
Wetzsteon repeatedly asked the majority why they were disregarding Kaleva's advice, but he got no answer.
Banks, Bender and Schallenberger all stressed that "objective origins" has no religious purpose in school, and that intent will be a key feature should the board be sued. Federal courts have repeatedly struck down religious-based efforts to bring Christian "creation science" into the mainstream of American science instruction.
"Creation is definitely not something that we need in the school," Bender said.
Wetzsteon said the board was making a mistake by moving ahead with a vague policy that gives no guidance for what and how teachers will teach. Where will the school find a textbook to match its policy? he asked. And, he said, how would it be paid for?
"Right now there's nothing in place," Wetzsteon said.
The debate over "objective origins" has sharply divided the town, and that division was once again evident Monday night as the board took additional testimony about the policy proposal. The policy has already been the topic of at least four meetings, and nearly 100 people offered their thoughts in meetings last week and Monday night.
And despite what the board said about the policy having no religious purpose, it was clear again Monday that many in Darby wish that it did. A handful of speakers talked about how they'd had prayer in schools growing up, and several more talked about Jesus. They also decried Darwinism as a secular religion.
Once again, the religious proponents were countered by the advocates of current science instruction, which included a boisterous group of Darby High students.
Zach Honey, a student, had done an unscientific poll of his fellow students, and he told the board the "vast majority" doesn't want the new policy.
"We are choosing," Honey said. "And we don't want it."
They got it anyway, over additional objections from principals Loyd Rennaker and Doug Mann.
Rennaker is principal of the junior and senior high schools, and he urged the board to work with the state to develop a curriculum that will fit state standards for public instruction. Critics have said the school may be jeopardizing its funding by enacting the new science proposal.
"Why Darby? Why Darby?" Rennaker asked. "Let the state decide this."
Mann, principal of the elementary school and curriculum coordinator for the district, said the board would be putting the "cart before the horse" by approving the policy with no plans for implementing it. Mann had a series of questions for the board, none of which was answered.
What teaching materials would be used and are they credible?
What are the costs, in both time and money?
What "origins" will be acceptable?
The majority appeared far from having those answers Monday night, but Schallenberger, Bender and Banks said the process is just beginning.
"There's work to be done," Schallenberger said.
Reporter Michael Moore can be reached at 523-5252 or 370-3330, or at mmoore@missoulian.com
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