In 1925, a high school biology teacher named John Scopes was tried and charged for illegally teaching the evolution theory in a classroom in Tennessee.

This was one of the first major evolution cases to arise in the United States. Amid much controversy Scopes stood for trial and despite questionable witnesses, was convicted and fined $100. The trial was nicknamed “The Monkey Trial.”

Years later, in 1968, the United States Supreme Court ruled that prohibiting the teaching of evolution violates a clause of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1999, however, the Kansas State Board of Education eliminated the evolution theory from the required science curriculum. It was the first state to do so and the first in a long line to be engulfed in an evolution-intelligent design debate.

One of the states to experience that great controversy has been Pennsylvania. Recently, in 2004, a Pennsylvania school district attempted to incorporate the intelligent design theory into its biology curriculum.

It was greatly debated and ended up before U.S. District Judge John E. Jones in December of 2005. Jones ruled that it could not be done arguing that it was merely “creationism in disguise” and that it violated the separation of church and state.

What is intelligent design?

Intelligent design is the theory of a divine creation. Supporters of this theory suggest that the universe is far to complex to have been created from an explosion or cell evolution and therefore it had to have had some type of intervention.

Many who are intelligent design supporters are Christian and believe that the universe was created by God.

Although creationism, as the theory has been deemed, has become stereotypical of intelligent design, it is not the true definition.

What is evolution?

According to the theory of evolution, all species originated from earlier forms. The theory believes that humans descended from apelike ancestors.

Evolutionists believe humans are primates and say that their physical and genetic similarities show a relationship to apes.

As a result, humans are now attempting to alter evolution at the most basic level— the genes. Evolution and genetic engineering are currently being studied and experimented.

Florida schools rely on the Sunshine State Standards, which do not include intelligent design. The standards also do not address evolution by name, but do cite many of Darwin’s core principles. Last week, Hillsborough County science teachers rejected a textbook that made mention of intelligent design.

Supreme Court cases

•McLean vs. Arkansas Board of Education: 1982, federal court ruled that addressing intelligent design and evolution equally in public schools was a violation of the constitution.

•Edwards vs. Aguillard: 1987, Supreme Court deemed a Louisiana “Creationism Act” unconstitutional. The act did not allow evolution to be taught unless it was taught along side intelligent design.

•Webster vs. New Lenox School District: 1990, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the school district could forbid a teacher from teaching intelligent design.