“The cadillac of disclaimers”: Twenty years of official antievolutionism in Alabama

Abstract

For the last 20 years, biology textbooks in the state of Alabama have featured a disclaimer about evolution, owing to a series of decisions on the part of the Alabama state board of education. Clearly motivated by antievolution sentiment and aimed at reinforcing doubt and denial about evolution on the part of students in the state’s public schools, the disclaimer was so prominent as to have been described as “the Cadillac of disclaimers.” Because of its longevity as well as its influence, it deserves-and repays-detailed attention as a manifestation of antievolutionism.