Posted on 11/12/2005 4:16:49 AM PST by PatrickHenry
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Friday called the state's new science standards a "step in the wrong direction."
Her comments follow a week in which the Kansas Board of Education adopted new science standards Tuesday that portray evolution as being in doubt and change the definition of science to allow for supernatural explanations.
In her lengthiest public comments yet on the controversy, Sebelius said she worries the changes will undermine science education and send the message that Kansas doesn't welcome high-tech firms and research. She pointed to the state's efforts to recruit bioscience companies, while the board votes to move "away from well-known, proven facts in science class."
Her comments also came as more candidates have stepped forward to challenge Board of Education members who approved the standards earlier this week.
Though the standards make no mention of creationism or intelligent design, they were sought by members of the intelligent design movement, which believes scientific evidence shows that nature was designed by a creator.
Four of the six conservative board members who voted to approve the changes are up for election next November. Moderate Republicans and Democrats are aiming to unseat conservatives, take control of the board and remove the new science standards before they go into effect in 2007.
In a closely watched race in Pennsylvania, voters in the town of Dover on Tuesday did what opponents of the intelligent design standards hope will happen here.
Voters there ousted most of that city's school board, which had voted to put intelligent design in the curriculum.
The latest two people to announce campaigns for state school board are Don Weiss, an Olathe resident, and Kent Runyan, a Pittsburg State University education professor.
Weiss will run as a Democrat against board member John Bacon, an Olathe Republican. Runyan will run as a Democrat against Republican board member Iris Van Meter. Bacon and Van Meter supported the standards.
Olathe resident Harry McDonald has already announced his plans to challenge Bacon in the primary election. Other candidates have popped up in other districts as well.
Bacon, who hasn't announced his re-election plans, said he's not concerned about his challengers and doesn't believe any political lessons from Dover, Pa., are relevant to Kansas. He said the Kansas school standards do not mandate the teaching of intelligent design like the ones in Dover. And he said he believes most Kansans will support the board's decision.
"There are holes in evolution," he said. "Any good scientist will admit to that."
Sebelius said she was "baffled" by the Board of Education's yearlong debate about evolution, and that as a Catholic who attended religious schools, she sees no contradiction between faith and scientific explanations of nature.
"I was taught that God created the universe," she said. "I was also taught science in science class."
Bacon said Sebelius doesn't understand that the board changed the standards to allow students to make up their own minds about evolution. He said worries about the changes' effects on the economy, public education and the state's reputation amount to "scare tactics."
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Probably one of the best hard rock/classical/Christmas music bands in existence. Odds are you've heard at least one of their songs ("Christmas in Sarajevo") though their "Christmas Canon" has also gotten a bit of airplay in the last few years.
I'm middle aged. I'm usually in bed by 10.
And it's a lie whenever a Running-Dog-Lackey posts.
So both Marxists and Creationists believe education and science leads people to Marxism
They could be wrong
Dang, looks like I have become enemy #1 to the evo's.
LOL. You're no more than a flee, at most.
Huh I'm not "fleeing". I think you meant "flea".
Your grammar lesson for today.
flee; verb
flea; noun.
Your grammar lesson for today.
Patronizing attitude noted, flea.
Aww, poor baby can't take a taste of your own medicine(hubristic, patronizing attitude).
Dang, looks like I have become enemy #1 to the evo's.
You are a flea.
Notice he refuses to provide a cite for his big claim that Darwin's "Origin Of Species" is about the origins of life. When pressed he calls us Hillary lovers and a Marxists. Why is it so hard for him to find these quotes? The book should be filled with them if he is correct.
Most interesting.
Notice he refuses to provide a cite for his big claim that Darwin's "Origin Of Species" is about the origins of life.
I noticed. He's a troll trying to incite emotional responses. He must think he's doing God's work and following in the footprints of Jesus. I think there is some kind of special dispensation when 'misspeaking' for these ends.
no evidence ... no proof ... communist ... atheist ... Hillary ... Hitler ...origin of life ... Pol Pot ... materialist ... liberal ... homosexual ... God-hater ... Stalin ... I never said that! ... Christian-basher ... Piltdown Man ... gaps ... nazi ... what are you afraid of? ... government grants ... I'm not (lying, stupid, illogical, insulting, ignorant, dogmatic, Clintonian, trolling, etc.) you are! ... Darwin worship ...
I actually live in the present and it seems the name darwin today is now synonomous with a theory of the origins of life.
That ain't my fault, if you have such a semantic problem with the current meaning of "darwinism" don't get mad at me.
Get mad at the "scientists" who have actually, according to your rhetoric, hijacked his original theory.
But you are silent about the modern scientific community's and media's interpretation of darwin's theory, focusing all your kneejerk vitriol at me.
I think you already reached your peak several posts ago ...
I read plenty of biologists who think Darwin is crap. Virtually all of the ID biologists say it's garbage.
What scientific criticism?
effdot?
What hysterical shrieking? Mostly I see informed posts from the anti-creos and stupid lies by the creos.
Wow you guys are a real sensitve lot when it comes to questioning darwin and his modern supporters, and stating that some don't think darwin is the know all be all in the field.
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