...I don't think we're on the threshold of the 21st Century anymore...
This past Tuesday, the Kansas Board of Education held a vote on the subject of evolution in classrooms. By a 6 to 4 vote, evolution was effectively removed from the classroom.
To be fair, schools still have the option of teaching evolution if they want to. But knowledge of evolution will not be required for any state sanctioned testing.
To say that this is a step backward for education is an understatement. This is nothing less than religious encroachment upon an area legally the responsibility of government. The only reason these people don't want evolution taught is that it conflicts with their views of a biblical creation.
Creationism can't be taught in public schools, and this vote does nothing to change that. But don't be fooled. Creationism is at the heart of this whole scenario.
Creationists have gotten wiser over the years. It used to be that they'd try to get Creationism taught along with evolution in schools. But the fact is that Creationism isn't science. There's not a whiff of science about it. It's religion, pure and simple. So after years of failure on this front, they changed tactics. And in Kansas, that change has paid off.
Now, if the new curriculum actually favors Creationism, there will be a lawsuit. Americans United for Separation of Church and State has stated quite clearly that they'll sue. People for the American Way is also outraged over it. And I imagine the ACLU has some choice things to say about it, as well. But I don't know whether to expect to see any real action or not. As I've said, Creationists have gotten wiser. The curriculum won't contain anything about Creation. But it won't contain evolution, the cornerstone of modern biological science, either.
Imagine some of these kids trying to pass college science courses without knowing a thing about evolution. It makes me shudder to think of it.
Maybe one of my readers in Kansas would be willing to paste some Darwin fish bumperstickers on the cars of BOE members...
