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Excerpt from the AGI Government Affairs Monthly Review: February 2004.
*** Evolution Battles Heat Up - Again ***
Georgia
After announcing in late January that the word evolution would not be used in K-12 curriculum, and sections on biologic evolution and big bang theory would be cut out of classroom education, the Georgia State Board of Education reversed these decisions in February. Following a state and national outcry, both the word evolution and the missing sections will be reinstated in the curriculum. That said, a section on biologic evolution is still missing some of the student activities and supporters of science education are concerned that it may be a tactic used to undermine the classroom presentation of evolution.
The newly re-revised standards are still up for public comment and the final vote will be taken in June. To view the revised curriculum, go to http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/passwd/trc/ttools/attach/curriculum/science/Updated GaBioCur2-20.pdf To provide your feedback, go to http://edtech.doe.k12.ga.us/QCC/survey.htm . In addition, Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) has sponsored a bill (HB-1406) in the Georgia House of Representatives that requires future changes to the curriculum follow national standards. The bill would also clarify the role of the legislature in curriculum changes. Ashe told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "My real objective is to make sure the legislative process isn't left out as major curriculum revisions are made and Georgia maintains a curriculum that is worthy as our place as an economic engine in the Southeast." The bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee where it has the support of committee Chairman Bob Holmes (D-Atlanta).
Alabama
Representative Jim Carns introduced HB391 in the Alabama House of Representatives on February 12th. The bill provides protection for both teachers and students who want to freely discuss creationism, as long as the discussion is raised in the context of approved curricula material and that the students show "acceptable understanding" of the course materials. Meaning, as long as evolution is in the curriculum, then alternate viewpoints (whether based on science or not) may legally be discussed. HB 391 is similar to SB 336 (see below), but expands upon the role of teaching all alternate viewpoints, and points out that the aim of the bill is not to teach religion in public schools. HB391 has been referred to the House Education Committee. On February 17th Alabama State Senator Wendell Mitchell, introduced a bill (SB 336) into the State Senate that would allow all theories on creation to be taught in Alabama public schools. According to the Montgomery Advisor, Mitchell remarked, "This bill will level the playing field because it allows a teacher to bring forward the biblical creation story of humankind." The bill has much of the same language as HB391 and is currently under consideration by the Senate Education Committee. Both bills are co-sponsored by a mix of Democrats and Republicans. The Senate bill has 9 co-sponsors and the House bill has over 30.
Ohio
On February 10th the Ohio Board of Education passed a resolution of intent to adopt a lesson plan (called "Critical Analysis of Evolution") that endorses the teaching of intelligent design in the science curriculum. The vote signifies only the Board's intent and a final vote will be taken at next month's Board meeting. One of the Board members who opposes the inclusion of intelligent design, vows to ask Ohio Governor Bob Taft to overturn the decision. The new lesson plans would be voluntary guidelines on how to teach the standards; however the lesson plans will form the basis of proficiency and graduation tests, making their content extremely important to educators. Dr. Steve Rissing, a member of the advisory committee for the development of the Ohio science content standards and professor at Ohio State University, was asked to write a new lesson plan to replace "Critical Analysis of Evolution," which he did. At the February meeting of the Board, it was revealed that the new lesson plan would not be considered until next fall. The delay was attributed to a decision by the Chairman of the Standards Committee of the Ohio Board of Education. The new lesson plan is still in draft form, but adheres to the benchmarks and is in line with scientific thinking. More information at http://www.ohioscience.org
Oklahoma
On February 24th the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill (HB 2194) that would require all textbooks that contain content on evolution to have a disclaimer that begins by stating: "This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory which some scientists present as scientific explanation for the origin of living things such as plants and humans. No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life's origins should be considered as theory, not fact." The bill was originally introduced on February 2nd to require textbook publishers to provide electronic files for the production of Braille versions of the textbooks according to U.S. Department of Education standards. The bill was amended on February 23rd, one day before the House voted on it, to contain the new section about the evolution disclaimer. In addition, HB 2194 contains language from SB 894, which allows school districts to purchase textbooks not on the approved list of the State Textbook Committee. SB 894 only allows for 20% of state funds to go to alternate books, but HB 2194 does not have that limitation.
*** Understanding Evolution: An Evolution Website for Teachers ***
A new resource is available on the internet for teachers and the public at large. The site is split into two main sections, learning evolution and teaching evolution. The learning evolution side has sections on the nature of science, evolution, lines of evidence supporting evolution, evolution's relevance to everyday life, misconceptions of evolution and the history of evolutionary thought. The teaching evolution section has searchable lesson plans, arguments about why evolution is necessary to learn in the classroom with links refer to the learning area of the site, and readings and resources for more information. The new site is available at http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evohome.html.
H. Richard Lane
Program Director, Geology and Paleontology Program
Earth Science Division
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 785,
Arlington, Virginia 22203 USA
Ph: 703-292-4730; Fax: 703-292-9025
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