Shirts to Beat the Band

It seems fitting that my first post on our new blog is about Band shirts and about Evolution. I was in band once. I played trombone when growing up and was in my Junior High School Band. And I’m very active on the creation_evolution_debate forum and I am a moderator on the evolutionversuscreation forum. So one of the members of the CED Forum group posted a link to an article from Sedalia, Missouri. Seems their High School band t-shirts created some controversy. They were intended to promote the band and its Fall Program, “Brass Evolutions.” The picture on the shirt portrayed the famous Ascent of Man picture portraying the stages of evolution and the captions “Smith-Cotton High School Tiger Pride Marching Band” and “Brass Evolutions 2009.”

Some parents got upset, however, and the band is looking for a new design. After band members wore the shirts in the Missouri State Fair Parade, Assistant Superintendent Brad Pollitt said people complained. “I made the decision to have the band members turn the shirts in after several concerned parents brought the shirts to my attention,” he said, adding that the district is required by law to remain neutral where religion is concerned. Um, newsflash to Mr. Pollitt, evolution is not a religion, it is a science. Last time I checked, schools were in the business of teaching things like science. A band parent, Sherry Melby, who is also a teacher in the district, said she supported Pollitt’s decision. “I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school,” she said. Hmmm. I hope she doesn’t teach science. Maybe someone ought to check her credentials.

So here’s a pic of the shirt that got these parents all hot and bothered.

T-Shirt Beats the Band

I’d buy one!

Later: There are several people blogging about this and several who have started petitions or organized letter campaigns against the school district. I am hesitant to take part in any of these because when it comes to t-shirts for the band, I kind of think the local folks should get to make that decision, however stupid that decision might be. However, Dr. Kiki Sandford has come up with a very positive way of dealing with the school district while at the same time showing support for the shirts. She has written a letter to the school district suggesting that they sell the t-shirts to people who are not upset by the design.

So there you have it folks. What a great way of turning a positive into a negative while at the same time showing support for the t-shirt design! Contact the school district and ask if you can buy one or more of the t-shirts. I’ll be contacting them later tonight!

Mr. Brad Pollitt’s email address can be found here: Pollitt