TAKE, for example, the row that erupted at the Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri, over this cool T-shirt:
The shirts, designed to promote the band’s fall programme, are light gray and feature an image of a monkey progressing through stages and eventually emerging as a man. Each figure holds a brass instrument. Several instruments decorate the background and the words “Smith-Cotton High School Tiger Pride Marching Band” and “Brass Evolutions 2009″ are emblazoned above and below the image.
Assistant Band Director Brian Kloppenburg said the shirts were designed by him, band director Jordan Summers and the Main Street Logo company. They were intended to portray how brass instruments have evolved in music from the 1960s to modern day. Summers said they chose the evolution of man theme because it was “recognisable”.
The band wore the T-shirts for the first time when it marched in the Missouri State Fair parade.
According to this report, that’s when trouble erupted. A group of fundie nutters … er… “concerned parents” kicked off about the shirts’ “Darwinian message” – and, in what appears to have been a moment of blind panic the school’s assistant superintendent Brad Pollitt ordered the shirts to be “turned in”.
Explaining that the district is required by law to remain neutral where religion is concerned, Pollitt said:
I made the decision to have the band members turn the shirts in after several concerned parents brought the shirts to my attention. If the shirts had said ‘Brass Resurrections’ and had a picture of Jesus on the cross, we would have done the same thing.
Sherry Melby, a teacher in the district, stands behind Pollitt’s decision. Melby said she associated the image on the T-shirt with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
I was disappointed with the image on the shirt. I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.
This from a TEACHER!?
High School junior Adam Tilley didn’t help much either. He said he understood why the shirts were repossessed.
I can see where the parents are coming from. Evolution has always been controversial.
But senior drum major Mike Howard said he was disappointed when he had to return the shirt.
I liked the shirt because it was unique. The theory of evolution never even crossed my mind.
Commenting on the incident, Friendly Atheist Hemant Mehta said:
So what if it did promote evolution? There’s nothing wrong with that! That these kids don’t see the problem here highlights the fact that young people are under-educated about science.
Next thing you know, the school will ban Astronomy Club shirts that mention the Big Bang, or Environmental Club shirts that mention Global Warming… where does it stop?
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 31st, 2009 at 10:41 am
They can remain neutral on religion all they want, evolution is not religion!
August 31st, 2009 at 11:26 am
Shameful shame. Very disappointing.
August 31st, 2009 at 11:57 am
Only in America! And they complain about Muslims fundamentalism! Madness.
August 31st, 2009 at 11:57 am
"I don't think evolution should be associated with our school." That is a priceless sound-bite though isn't it. It absolutely spells out the ignorance and stupidity of the woman in just ten words.Surely Americans need to weed these idiots out of their education system if they want to have any kind of future as a world power. I just don't see how a nation of scientifically illiterate ignoramuses will be able to compete in a technologically driven world.
August 31st, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Do they think knowledge should be associated with their precious school, because I guess they don't mind religion within it's walls. Talking of controversy! Next time I have a kid I want dumbed down, I'll consider Smith-Cotton.
August 31st, 2009 at 12:09 pm
…"I just don't see how a nation of scientifically illiterate ignoramuses will be able to compete in a technologically driven world."
Survival of the thickest?
August 31st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
"Evolution has always been controversial." Yes, evidenced based scientific facts are controversial if you believe in talking snakes! Shame on these dullards.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I know this remark is going to be controversial, but I for one think that they were quite correct to "call in" these ridiculous T-shirts! It seems obvious to me that as far as the USA is concerned the hominids portrayed are all facing in the wrong direction!!
August 31st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Yeah. And the little fella on the end should have a tambourine.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Remigius said, in a remark that seems to have disappeared again, that "the little fella at the end should have a tambourine"! Very funny, remigius, but I did comment on the FriendlyAtheist site that I thought he looked surprisingly like George W. Bush (thus lending weight to my hypothesis)!!
August 31st, 2009 at 4:30 pm
"A group of fundie nutters … er… 'concerned patents' kicked off about the shirts’ 'Darwinian message'"
Concerned "paTents?" PaRents perhaps?
As a US citizen I can second the fact that our priorities regarding public schools are WAY out of whack.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Typo corrected, Koba. Thanks for pointing it out.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I thought it might be referring to 'concerned patients'. You know, the feeble minded types in one of those special hospitals with bars on the windows.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Koba’s Note: Haha! How said is that? He’d rather risk dying than deal with his wife, has this man never heard of divorce? Or arsenic? :
Koba…………clicked on your name and spotted this typo!
August 31st, 2009 at 7:01 pm
That's very funny, too!
August 31st, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Reginald Selkirk has commented on the Friendly Atheist blog that at least they are admitting here that their opposition to evolution is based on religion! Good point!!
August 31st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I had always assumed that America was a technological society, in which case scientists over there presumably use evolutionary algorithms in many branches of science, just like everyone else, and would have done for many years. In particular, artificial evolution is used widely in the development of computer programs all the time, yet these bozos declare that they "don't believe in evolution"! (Someone else has pointed out elsewhere that technology is evolving all the time, as we are all aware, yet it is only in the natural world that it is thought "impossible".) There's plenty more information about this on Wikipedia, in case you're interested, but I don't suppose that these people would see the inconsistency in their position!!
August 31st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Actually, that's an interesting point, Har Davids. It has long been a belief amongst certain evangelical Christians (and some of you are not going to believe this!) that children should not be educated above the level of their parents. It may have started with the Calvinists, I think, and is certainly held by some of the Brethren, that it is not good for children to get the idea that they are in any way "superior" to their parents! (Those of you with smart-arsed kids of the iPod generation are going to know just what is meant here!!!) Where exactly we would be in terms of medicine and technology today if this idea had gained support generally I just can't imagine!!
August 31st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
This seems to be one of the new tactics of the religious whackos. They've been largely unsuccessful at ramming religion back into the schools, so they're now trying to label anything they dislike "religion" in an attempt to get it ousted under the Establishment Clause. Sadly some people seem to be falling for it.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:31 am
Brass instruments have evolved from the 1960's to the present day? Definitely *micro* evolution! Anyway, jazz may not be what it used to be but it's surely not the fault of the hardware.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:28 am
I think that is a very fine T-shirt and if they don’t want to wear them I would like to buy one. Is there a website where I can order one?
September 1st, 2009 at 8:40 am
With any luck they'll yurn up on Ebay!
September 1st, 2009 at 8:41 am
With any luck they'll turn up on Ebay!
September 1st, 2009 at 9:16 am
http://vids.myspace.com/index......ids…
Penn & Teller: Creationism
If you've not seen it, this vid is a decent way to spend 20mins.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am
http://vids.myspace.com/index......ids…
September 1st, 2009 at 10:00 am
And the vatican one:
http://vids.myspace.com/index......ids…
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:16 am
My school had a shirt like that when i was playing baseball and no one cared but then again i am from Washington state and evolution is not a religion.