Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection remain under assault in Kansas as champions of intelligent design and the theory of evolution fire their “canons”. The lines have been drawn in the Kansas State Board of Education meeting rooms where the debates are taking place.
This isn’t the first time Kansas has visited the issue either. They’ve already changed the rules on teaching evolution twice since 1999 depending entirely on the political ideology of the board members.
The Discovery Institute leads the legions against the Darwin’s evolution. They say at the very least that intelligent design should be given fair consideration. Discovery Institute geophysicist Stephen C. Meyer calls efforts to change standards “an academic freedom proposal.”
The Institute’s website covers their thoughts on the matter:
2) What is Discovery’s position on proposed revisions to the Kansas science standards?
Discovery Institute supports the Minority Report drafted by members of the Kansas science standards writing committee. The Minority report recommends expanding the information presented to students about biological and chemical evolution by including some of the scientific criticisms of these theories. It also recommends the adoption of a definition of science that is consistent with the definition of science adopted by other states. The Minority Report does not propose teaching intelligent design theory.
The foes of intelligent design are mobilizing and calling in the troops although they refuse to participate in the official examinations by the Kansas State Board of Education. They say it encourages the intelligent design advocates and gives them additional ammunition for their cause.
“Intelligent design has no scientific credibility, but they very effectively market a controversy,” Steven B. Case, head of the Kansas science standards committee told the Washington Post. “They speak well in sound bites. ‘Intelligent design’ is a good one. They never specify a designer.”
John Stith is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business.
