When I said I thought it would be kind of good to learn more
about evolution, some other kids started calling me monkey girl.
‘Cause they said god made them, but that I must’ve come from
chimps.” – 14-year-old from Dover, PA This book recounts one of
the major victories for science education in the United States.
It is also a well researched and contemplative work focusing on
the people who advocated for and against teaching evolution in
biology class versus creation science and Intelligent Design.
Although, one would think the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial would
have settled the legal argument, it appears that ignorance of
science and theism continue rear their head. Edward Humes' book,
Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion and the Battle for
America’s Soul, recounts the tumult, politics, media circus and
eventual court decision in Dover, Pennsylvania. The judge’s
decision legally refuted ID as theology and not science. The
court found ID had no basis in fact, nor should it be taught
alongside evolution in