Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion?

To the extent that there is real substance to the claim that academic freedom is endangered, it comes from the efforts of those like advocates of intelligent design (ID), who want to foist their "theory" on unsuspecting undergraduates who haven't learned enough about science to see through its pretensions of being real science rather than merely being disguised theology.

Intelligent design bill aims to create momentum for '07
(By AMANDA JACOBS, Columbia Missourian, May 8, 2006)

A little-publicized bill that would allow the teaching of intelligent design in Missouri classrooms never made it to the floor of the Missouri General Assembly this year. However, proponents of the Missouri Science Education Act say the issue will likely be back before lawmakers in 2007.

Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, chairwoman of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, said the bill's sponsors wanted to use this year's committee hearings to generate momentum for the measure. Cunningham's committee approved the bill by a 7-6 vote in March.

The Missouri Science Education Act would require sixth- through 12th-grade science teachers to engage in "critical analysis" of evolution as a theory rather than teaching it as an accepted fact.

Sen. Bill Alter, R-Jefferson City, who introduced a similar bill in the Senate, said it was necessary to continue discussion of the issue. Alter said both evolution and intelligent design are theories and should be handled as such in the classroom.

"If it's taught the same as any other science, I'm all for it," he said.

The science education act also represents a subtle tactical shift by intelligent design proponents, said Jay Wexler, an associate professor of law at Boston University. Since a U.S. district judge in Dover, Pa., ruled in December that a resolution requiring the teaching of intelligent design violates the Constitution, proponents are more aggressively pointing out the gaps in evolutionary theory while attempting to change the definition of science in the classroom.

"Their strategies evolve over time," said Wexler, who thinks the Missouri bill still raises constitutional concerns but says it is more likely to be accepted than the Dover resolution.

Opponents of an intelligent design requirement in Missouri classrooms, such as Rep. Sara Lampe, D-Springfield, say the legislation is more about discrediting evolution than improving standards.

"It's very clever to come at the intelligent design issue from this angle," Lampe said.

Evolution battle may find new venue

If they wish to throw away their money that badly, I can suggest some good charities for them; me!

Such a system is irreducibly complex to those who are unaware of it and they live their lives within this bubble of ignorance and their pronouncements from within that bubble can be objectively defined as stupid.

Intense ed board elections expected
(By Tim Vandenack, The Hutchinson News, May 14, 2006)

Betsy Hineman always has prided herself on a certain level of civic involvement - knowing the candidates and the issues in a given race.

Now, the Dighton woman, a leader in a new group called the Kansas Alliance for Education, finds her participation reaching new heights.

"It's just due to the need," she explained. "Someone needs to do something."

In light of many contentious moves by the conservative majority on the Kansas Board of Education, including the decision allowing for increased classroom criticism of evolution, critics promise a tough fight this electoral season.

Three conservative incumbents are up for election, including Ken Willard of Hutchinson and Connie Morris of St. Francis, and their foes, including the Alliance, are pushing hard to oust them.

A fourth conservative, Iris Van Meter of Thayer, is not seeking re-election, though her son-in-law, Brad Patzer of Neodesha, is vying for the post.

"I think it's maybe as intense as we've seen it, because 2000 was pretty intense," said Joe Aistrup, a Kansas State University political scientist.

In a precursor to this year's campaign, strong debate over a board decision to adopt science standards that de-emphasize certain aspects of evolution marked the electoral battle six years ago. Critics of the change won out that year, and the revamped body reversed course, at least for the time being.

Hineman and others, however, suggest the passion this go-around might exceed that of 2000. Aside from last summer's evolution decision, recent contested actions include the selection of Bob Corkins as education commissioner even though he lacked education experience and moves to clamp down on what's taught in sex education classes.

"I'm seeing a lot more energy and a lot more frustration about decisions that have been made," said Sue Gamble, a member of the school board's moderate wing from Shawnee in suburban Kansas City, Kan. She is not up for re-election, but she has campaigned as far west as Dodge City with the Alliance and echoes its call for a more moderate school board.

Similarly, Boo Tyson, executive director of the Prairie Village-based MAINstream coalition, said the controversial moves by school board conservatives are rallying their foes. That organization's top priority is the ouster of the conservatives, she said, while another suburban Kansas City, Kan., group, Kansas Families United for Public Education, plans to send volunteers to Hutchinson and points west as part of the same effort.

"I think the radical nature of the school board and the radical decisions the school board has made have brought us all together," said Tyson, who also traveled to Dodge City last month with the Alliance.

Still, the targeted board members and their backers aren't convinced the tough talk will translate into action as the Aug. 1 primary election and Nov. 7 general election near.

"It's going to be a wait-and-see thing," said Charlotte Esau of the Kansas Republican Assembly, a grouping of socially and fiscally conservative Republicans. The group is endorsing Morris, Willard, Patzer and the other conservative incumbent, John Bacon of Olathe.

For his part, Willard, the school board member from Hutchinson, challenges his critics' view of the campaign. He sees foes like the Alliance as sticklers for the status quo and himself as a seeker of new ways to invigorate public education.

"The choice is going to be between the status quo and progress," Willard said.

The decision last year to permit more criticism of evolution - seen by foes as a backdoor attempt to inject creationist-friendly concepts into science classes - stands out as the most controversial move by the 10-member school board. That change, approved by the 6-4 conservative majority, echoed a similar decision, subsequently reversed, by the body in 1999.