Cobb school board abandons evolution sticker case

ATLANTA - A school board in suburban Atlanta has given up on its years-long defense of placing stickers critical of the theory of evolution on high school science books.<br> <br> The Cobb County school board signed an agreement filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday agreeing never to use a similar sticker or to undermine the teaching of evolution in science classes.<br> <br> In return, plaintiffs who sued the board agreed to drop all legal action.<br> <br> &#34;We certainly think that it&#39;s a win not just for our clients but for all students in Cobb County and, really, all residents of Georgia,&#34; said Beth Littrell, associate legal director with ACLU of Georgia.<br> <br> The school board placed the stickers on the cover of biology books in 2002 after a group of parents complained that evolution was being taught to the exclusion of other theories, including the Biblical story of creation.<br> <br> The stickers read, &#34;This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.&#34;<br> <br> U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper ordered the stickers be removed in 2005, saying they convey an &#34;impermissible message of endorsement&#34; of religion, despite not specifically mentioning it.<br> <br> The school board appealed, but the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals sent the case back, saying it didn&#39;t have enough information to make its own ruling.<br> <br> &#34;After the 11th Circuit Court vacated the decision, we faced the distraction and expense of starting all over with more legal actions and another trial,&#34; said board Chairwoman Teresa Plenge. &#34;With this agreement, it is done and we now have a clean slate for the new year.&#34;