A high school band in Sedalia, Missouri came up with these cute shirts showing the “evolution” of a trumpet player:

Those shirts will no longer be worn, though, because religious parents complained:

[Assistant Superintendent Brad] Pollitt said the district is required by law to remain neutral where religion is concerned. “If the shirts had said ‘Brass Resurrections’ and had a picture of Jesus on the cross, we would have done the same thing,” he said. Band parent Sherry Melby, who is 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.” Melby said. “I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.”

That’s the mark of a dumb administrator and an ignorant parent/teacher.

She doesn’t think evolution should be associated with the school? While she’s at it, why not just get rid of the whole science department. Clearly, they’re unnecessary, too…

The shirt has absolutely nothing to do with religion. Hell, it has very little to do with science, since the image isn’t even an accurate portrayal of evolution. (Evolution doesn’t point toward man… or a trumpet player for that matter.)

But leave it to fundie parents to oppose even the notion of evolution.

The high school students aren’t helping:

“It’s not like we are saying God is bad,” sophomore band member Denyel Luke said. “We aren’t promoting evolution.” … Senior Drum Major Mike Howard said he was disappointed when he had to return the shirt. “I liked the shirt because it was unique,” Howard said. “The theory of evolution never even crossed my mind.”

That’s not the point. 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?

Ugh.

What a horrible decision by school officials. (Was there no one in the Science department who could chime in here?)

(via Why Evolution Is True)



