COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio has become the latest battleground for
conservative groups that want alternative theories to evolution to be
taught in classrooms.
But supporters of a change in new teaching standards aren't
necessarily pushing for creationism, the classic foe of Charles
Darwin's theory of natural selection.
Instead, backers of a rival theory called intelligent design want the
state Board of Education to include the idea that living things must
have been "designed" by some purposeful being.
The 19-member board has planned a special meeting for next month to
hear from experts of evolution, the most widely accepted theory, and
intelligent design.
The state in April started drafting new science standards after
previous guidelines were criticized as vague. Unlike the old
guidelines, the proposed standards include the word 'evolution.'
But board members Michael Cochran and Deborah Owens Fink have
expressed concern that the early draft does not include the concept
of intelligent design.
"We need to create a culture where students can discuss both the
strengths and weaknesses of the dominant theory of how life began,"
said Owens Fink, a marketing professor at the University of
Akron. "This is the type of thing that deserves more than just a
rubber stamp from the board."
Cochran, a Columbus attorney, wants the 41-member science standards
writing team -- made up mostly of primary, secondary and college
science teachers -- to draft an alternative proposal that includes
other theories.
Backers of evolution, including the Ohio Academy of Science, say
intelligent design has no place in public schools. In 1987, the U.S.
Supreme Court barred states from requiring the teaching of
creationism in public schools.
They argue intelligent design is simply a disguise for creationism,
or the biblical view that Earth and most life forms came into
existence suddenly about 6,000 years ago by a divine being.
"It's not science, it's creationism," said academy Director Lynn
Elfner.
Critics also argue that unlike evolution, intelligent design isn't
backed up by scientific evidence. They say it has not gone through a
rigorous review and mainstream journals haven't reviewed it.
The intelligent design movement, which includes creationists who have
lost court challenges to evolution and who now support other concepts
linked to divine creation, argue the theory offers an alternative for
students.
"It's totally different then creation science. Intelligent design
says nothing about religion or about the designer. All it makes is
the inference," said Robert Lattimer, a scientist on Ohio's writing
team and a member of the nonprofit group Science Excellence for All
Ohioans.
Those supporting intelligent design theory accept the idea that life
has changed over millions of years, but they reject Darwin's
suggestion that life happened gradually through natural selection.
"Evolution is a perfectly valid theory that's supported by evidence.
But it's protected and given a monopoly on explanation, and that's
not right," John Calvert, a Kansas City lawyer who is a co-founder of
the Intelligent Design Network, said Monday.
Ohio's current guidelines recommend covering "change through time"
but are not specific about what that involves. Ohio's reluctance to
use the word evolution in its biology standards earned the state a
failing grade in the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation's 2000 survey of
how states handle the teaching of life in public schools.
The board must approve the standards by the end of the year, and
bills pending in the state House and Senate also would require the
Legislature give its approval.
The debate over teaching life theories dates to 1925, when John T.
Scopes was charged with violating Tennessee law for teaching
evolution in high school. Scopes' conviction and $100 fine later were
overturned.
The controversy was rekindled in 1999 when the Kansas school board
voted to remove most references to evolution from state standards.
Board members eventually were voted out and last year new members
restored evolution in the standards.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
― Mike Hanle y, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)