The Kansas Board of Education is at it again, trying to define and re-define what passes for “science education” in this state. This time, the Board is sounding far more reasonable. A majority of members rejected the changes proposed by the 8-member ultra-conservative group behind the highly-publicized hearings concerning “intelligent design vs. evolution theory.” In fact, the committee drafting the science standards proposed for next year noted that intelligent design has no scientific basis.
Gee, really?
The real outrage behind all of this debate is not that the Board debated whether to teach intelligent design. The outrage, as I’ve previously mentioned, is that the hearings concerning the change cost the state $20,000. This, just as the Kansas Supreme Court was threatening to declare our school budget to be unconstitutional.
Worse yet, members of the Board knew that even if the teaching of “intelligent design” replaced that of evolution, the majority of science teachers would continue to teach whatever they wanted.
I think it’s about time those 8 ultra-conservative members start looking for new jobs.
Tuesday, August 9th, 2005, 1:54 pm | 
My Venomous Life | 
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August 9, 2005 at 2:05 pm
IMO, the proof of evolution only needs to look as far as some of the throwbacks available in any size population sample of Homo Sapiens. Seriously, don’t these people have important stuff to do????
August 9, 2005 at 11:15 pm
perhaps compromise might be a better approach next time? After school course or as an elective might have gotten in the door. Trying to pass off religious studies during a science class won’t.
August 10, 2005 at 9:55 am
We’re right up above you here in Nebraska. It’s no better. Luckily Boyo will only have 4th Grade left before we go to Okinawa.