OHIO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE CONSIDERING NEW ASSAULT ON TEACHING OF
EVOLUTION, CHARGES AMERICANS UNITED
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2006
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Contact: Joe Conn, Rob Boston or Jeremy Leaming
http://www.au.org/site/R?i=SrQZe4JLg7Ux5lLuLXfjXQ..
OHIO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE CONSIDERING NEW ASSAULT ON TEACHING OF
EVOLUTION, CHARGES AMERICANS UNITED
Church-State Watchdog Group Files Public Records Request Regarding Proposed
Changes To State Science Standards
Some members of the Ohio Board of Education appear to be preparing for
another assault on the teaching of evolution in public schools, says
Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Last month, board member Colleen Grady reportedly urged the Board of
Education's Achievement Committee to consider giving 10th-grade science
teachers guidance on teaching evolution and other "controversial" issues
such as global warming, cloning and stem-cell research.
Grady apparently put forward a proposal that would change the language of
Ohio's existing science standards in an effort to reflect religious
criticism of evolution and other scientific principles. The proposal has
not been publicly released.
On July 11, Americans United filed a request under the Ohio open records
law that asks for copies of the Grady proposal as well as all documents and
correspondence by the Board of Education and the Department of Education
relating to proposed changes to the state's science standards.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, urged the Ohio
board to reject any effort to reopen the dispute over science education.
"Public school students in Ohio deserve sound science education, not
religious dogma masquerading as science," said Lynn. "It's time for
Religious Right allies on the board to drop their unwise agenda and focus
on policies that will benefit all of Ohio's students."
The teaching of evolution has sparked an ongoing battle in Ohio. In
January, the board voted 9-8 to affirm state science standards that
downplayed evolution. A month later, the board reversed itself and voted to
drop language that singled out evolution for "critical analysis" and a
lesson plan that promoted "intelligent design."
But Americans United says Religious Right allies on the board have
apparently not given up, and have now expanded their focus to encompass
other issues. AU made the public information request in an effort to learn
exactly what the board is trying to do.
The AU letter requests copies of various documents, communications and
other materials, including any contacts the board may have had with the
Discovery Institute or other Religious Right organizations that seek to
teach their religious perspectives in public school science classes.
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington,
D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the
importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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