| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Fredric L. Rice" |
| Date: |
15 Jun 2005 04:26:32 AM |
| Object: |
Insane Christian Cultists |
What's Wrong With Kansas? A Conversation With Thomas Frank
www.dissidentvoice.org/June04/Frank0614.htm
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Board member Morris: Evolution a 'fairy tale'
JOHN HANNA
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/11885987.htm
TOPEKA, Kan. - Evolution is an "age-old fairy tale," sometimes defended
with "anti-God contempt and arrogance," according to a State Board of
Education member involved in writing new science standards for Kansas'
public schools.
A newsletter written by board member Connie Morris, of St. Francis, was
circulating on Monday. In it, Morris criticized fellow board members,
news organizations and scientists who defend evolution.
She called evolution "a theory in crisis" and headlined one section of
her newsletter "The Evolutionists are in Panic Mode!"
"It is our goal to write the standards in such a way that clearly gives
educators the right AND responsibility to present the criticism of
Darwinism alongside the age-old fairy tale of evolution," Morris wrote.
Morris was one of three board members who last week endorsed proposed
science standards designed to expose students to more criticism of
evolution in the classroom. The other two were board Chairman Steve
Abrams, of Arkansas City, and Kathy Martin, of Clay Center.
Morris was in Topeka for meetings at the state Department of Education's
headquarters and wasn't available for interviews.
But her views weren't a surprise to Jack Krebs, vice president of Kansas
Citizens for Science, an Oskaloosa educator.
"Her belief is in opposition to mainstream science," he said.
"Mainstream science is a consensus view literally formed by tens of
thousands people who literally studied these issues."
The entire board plans to review the three members' proposed standards
Wednesday. The new standards - like the existing, evolution-friendly
ones - determine how students in fourth, seventh and 10th grades are
tested on science.
In 1999, the Kansas board deleted most references to evolution from the
science standards. Elections the next year resulted in a less
conservative board, which led to the current, evolution-friendly
standards. Conservative Republicans recaptured the board's majority in
2004 elections.
The three board members had four days of hearings in May, during which
witnesses criticized evolutionary theory that natural chemical processes
may have created the first building blocks of life, that all life has
descended from a common origin and that man and apes share a common
ancestor. Evolution is attributed to 19th Century British scientist
Charles Darwin.
Organizing the case against evolution were intelligent design advocates.
Intelligent design says some features of the natural world are so
complex and well-ordered that they are best explained by an intelligent
cause.
In their proposed standards, the three board members said they took no
position on intelligent design, but their work followed the suggestions
of intelligent design advocates.
In her newsletter, Morris said she is a Christian who believes the
account of creation in the Book of Genesis is literally true. She also
acknowledged that many other Christians have no trouble reconciling
faith and evolution.
"So be it," Morris wrote. "But the quandary exists when poor science -
with anti-God contempt and arrogance - must insist that it has all the
answers."
National and state science groups boycotted May's hearings before Morris
and the other two board members, viewing them as rigged against evolution.
"They desperately need to withhold the fact that evolution is a theory
in crisis and has been crumbling apart for years," Morris said.
But Krebs said Morris is repeating "standard creationist rhetoric."
"People have been saying evolution is a theory in crisis for 40 or 50
years," Krebs said. "Yet the scientific community has been strengthening
evolution every year."
---
http://www.ElmerFudd.US/ http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
http://PerkinsTragedy.org http://www.rightard.org/
End Republican race hatred: http://www.thedarkwind.org/
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