After participating in the League of Women Voters "Meet the Candidates" forum last Tuesday, I believe the central issues in this critical school board election are now crystal-clear to the community. At that forum, Rev. Himes evoked Hitler and Stalin to describe the hard-working and dedicated professionals who educate our children. Rev. Monaco threw in "extreme environmentalists" and "homosexual activists."

I think everyone now has the opportunity to see that these are the kinds of uninformed, divisive discussions we can expect to be initiated by either of these two men in place of real conversations about real district problems, should they be elected to the board.

Lori Holley and Ingrid Sutherland, on the other hand, gave informed, thoughtful and caring responses to questions asked them about such issues as school funding, creationism and book-banning. They really want to be on the board for the right reasons, and I support them.

The theory of evolution has stood the test of time, just as Copernicus' and Galileo's theory that the Earth revolves around the sun has. There was a raging debate within the religious elite back then, too, that science should conform to religious dogma. The ugly head of the Inquisition rose and lashed out, at Galileo as well as many others. But in the end the scientific method and the idea that church and state were best left separated evolved and survived, and flourish today, while the Inquisition did not.

We teach our kids the scientific method - where an idea goes through a stringent peer-reviewed process before it becomes a valid scientific theory - because understanding that process is vital to our kids' success in college and beyond. Creationism, whether it's called objective origins or intelligent design, is neither peer-reviewed nor scientific. It's religious and political in nature, which is why Darby taxpayers are being exposed to three possible lawsuits.

It is unfortunately too late to remove my name from the ballot. Therefore, when you go to the polls, there will be five names to choose from, mine included. If you support the levies and are concerned about our school district degenerating into an ideological battleground, then I ask you NOT to vote for me, but rather to vote for Ingrid Sutherland and Lori Holley.

If you do not support the levies, I urge you to consider the prudence of spending money you didn't feel you could afford for the schools on lawyers instead. Please remember that Ravalli County defended its anti-obscenity ordinance with a "free" lawyer, too, and got stuck with more than $50,000 in court costs anyway when it inevitably lost its case.

Creationism cases are generally more complicated and run much higher, but the outcome is equally certain. Finally, please understand that Curtis Brickley, the minister who brought the creationism issue before the Darby board and actively promoted it, has already approached our district superintendent with his intention to bring his high-priced controversy here.

It's a school board trustee's responsibility to acknowledge the realities of the legal system and the society within which we live, no matter what their private beliefs are, and to act responsibly. I believe Ingrid Sutherland and Lori Holley will do that, and will intelligently act in the best interest of our children. Please support them, May 4 at Hamilton High School, with your vote.

Bill LaCroix lives in Hamilton.

---

Reader's Comments >>

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)   

---