Yes, of course: the letter to Cobb County is a spoof. No, sadly: the Alabama evolution disclaimer is real (short news blurb).
PDF of current disclaimer (2001 - present) PDF of
previous disclaimer (1996 - 2001)
Why you should do something
If you live in Alabama and object to science being undermined in public schools, please consider actions A through L as ways that you can make a difference. Option K will be especially appealing to those who are pressed for time or lazy.
Option A. You can send an email to a board member. Research the board members a bit so that you choose the right person to contact. For example, if you are a rancher or car dealer, write to Gov. Riley (you might casually bring up the fact that artificial selection has been extremely effective at producing cows with extremely desirable grilling qualities). If you know something about Lutherans, write to Ella Bell. Former and current Boy Scouts are especially encouraged to mine the Boy Scout Fact Sheet (and other parts of the site) for good talking points such as, "If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them." If you go the Boy Scout route, please be sure to point out that the national organization supports evolution-related events, such as this page. Personal touches really matter, especially when combined with a civil tone. You don't want to be immediately recognized as science-lovin', ALL-CAPS-USIN' activist, but rather as someone who sincerely cares about improving Alabama public schools.
Here's the contact information, and biographical blurbs (as of January 2005):
Option B. Take the email you composed above and transfer it to a real piece of paper, and mail it. Letters on paper are far more effective than email. Writing, "contribution enclosed," greatly increases the chance of it being opened in a timely fashion.
Alabama State Department of Education
50 North Ripley Street
P.O. Box 302101
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Option C. You can write an editorial to a newspaper. National ones (e.g., New York Times, Washington Post) get the most attention nationally, but state papers (e.g., Birmingham News, others) might be a better option for reaching Alabamans. If you happen to live close to one of the board members, a letter to the editor in a really local paper (see "local media" links, above) might be especially effective at getting their attention. If you would like to write an article but just don't know what to say, you might somehow try to connect the disclaimers to Alabamans' persistent concern over their state's brain drain. If you're moving out of state, emphasize why. Or perhaps you can discuss how weak science standards hobble Alabamans who hope to go to out of state schools. Bringing up "separation of church and state" always seems appropriate, although it is often not creative enough to get people's attention, unfortunately. Even though the rest of county does, indeed, laugh at Alabama for its use of an evolution disclaimer, repeating this fact is probably not a good theme for a newspaper submission, since doing so will just hurt people's feelings and generate even more popular support for the disclaimer. Consult NCSE's "10 tips for writing letters to the editor" for more hints.
Option D. If you are qualified and are in no way affiliated with the Eagle Forum, please try to get a spot on the State Board of Education. If you are worried that you wouldn't fit in with the current flavor of the Board, bribe a pack of friends to join you in your bid for a seat.
Option E. If you are a product of the Alabama school system, consider suing the state for damages. Perhaps you didn't get admitted to your first-choice college last year, and perhaps this life-changing failure could be attributed to the absolutely terrible score you received on the evolution parts of the SAT II subject test in biology. Litigation is always a great way to make friends and effect social change.
Option F. If you have a child in the Alabama school system, pick up the assigned textbooks from school before your kids get to them. Go directly to an office supply store and get a bunch of those snazzy textbook covers . Or, make your own out of old Natural History magazines, or something equally appropriate. Or, if you're rich and like to help others, why not donate a box of custom-made, evolution-themed covers to local youth groups? After you get the cover, just tuck the disclaimer page right into the sleeve of these protectors, and tape it firmly shut. Your kid never has to know a thing about it.
Option G. Some people believe that strong prayer, conducted by many people simultaneously and directed toward a single goal, can work miracles. If you have an open mind, consider praying for the Board to reverse its approval of textbook disclaimers. This option is especially suited to large gatherings. If your group of friends can't quite reach the Board members, try moving to a higher location and whispering, in unison, "can you hear us now?"
Option H. If you are a semi-influential member of an Alabama association that has educational or scientific goals, make sure that your web site has a strong, easy-to-find page that details your support for disclaimer-free biology textbooks, and details how your members can best work toward the elimination of the disclaimer. And don't hide the page in your "Resources" links once your have it: if you live in Alabama, it belongs on your site's home page, above the fold. Once you have the page, send the URL to all the other Alabama organizations you can think of, and shame them into creating their own. Currently, there is only one Alabama group that has voiced opposition to textbook disclaimers. All other groups are, apparently, for the disclaimer.
= Organizations with an anti-disclaimer stance on their web sites.
Option I. If you are a nameless, unimportant member of an Alabama association that has educational or scientific goals, send an email to your association's officials asking them to create an anti-disclaimer web page. If they refuse or say, "yea, we should do that someday," cancel your membership and sign up, instead, with an organization that will take a stand, today. When in doubt, use your money to join the National Center for Science Education, an organization that has a good track record, in all 50 states, of getting things done. The NCSE has at least one folder dedicated to "Alabama," so help them keep it current by clipping and sending any anti-evolution articles you happen upon while reading the local papers.
Option J. Become an active member of the Alabama "evolution" list serve email distribution group. This list will help you communicate with like-minded individuals and to learn more about grassroots and national efforts to strengthen biology instruction in Alabama.
Option K. Do absolutely nothing. Yes--it's everyone's favorite option! If you are leaning toward this one, why don't you at least forward this URL to a few parents in Alabama who might care? Or leave some copies of the letter (PDF) in a local coffee shop to get some overcaffeinated people really riled up. Do it for the children.
Option L. There must be something I've missed, so send me an email if you have an idea and I'll add it. If all else fails, we can certainly send word to the mother ship.
If you would like more information, please send me a note at .
--Colin Purrington
Created January 15, 2005
Last updated
June 3, 2005
Governor Bob Riley
Joseph B. Morton (Exec. Officer)
Randy McKinney (District 01) 
Betty Peters (District 02) 
Stephanie W. Bell (District 03)
Dr. Ethel H. Hall (Dist. 04, Vice Pres.)
Ella B. Bell (District 05)
David F. Byers, Jr. (District 06, Vice Pres.)
Sandra Ray (District 07, Pres. Pro Tem)
Dr. Mary Jane Caylor (District 08)
