Washington Co. school board candiates discuss intelligent design, uniforms

WASHINGTON COUNTY — Jan Kochansky of Keedysville and his wife both are scientists and believe schools should not integrate creationism or intelligent design concepts into science education in Washington County Public Schools.

With grandchildren attending local schools, Kochansky said the couple has a personal interest in science curriculum.

“Evolution should be taught,” he said. “It’s the basic unifying framework for all of biology.”

Kochansky responded to a request by The Herald-Mail to pose a question to the eight candidates running for four open seats on the seven-member Washington County Board of Education. Candidates discuss their thoughts on whether intelligent design has a place in the classroom on page A3 of today’s Herald-Mail. They also respond to another question from a reader about whether they support school uniforms for students.

Candidates were asked to respond to the questions in writing using 100 words or fewer.

Intelligent design suggests that creation of the universe and of living things was guided by an intelligent cause, and creationism is the religious belief that a deity is responsible for the creation of the universe, life on Earth and humanity. However, evolution points to a scientific explanation for those things.

Intelligent design has been absent from science lessons after a U.S. District Court ruling in 2005 found that intelligent design is not a science and its teaching in public school classes would be a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Today is the third of four consecutive Sundays before the Nov. 4 general election that the candidates will be asked to respond to questions.

2 posted on 10/18/2008 3:47:40 PM PDT by Fichori (ironic: adj. 1 Characterized by or constituting irony. 2 Obamy getting beat up by a girl.)

And they were correct..

3 posted on 10/18/2008 4:24:36 PM PDT by org.whodat ( "the Whipped Dog Party" , what was formally the republicans.)

And they were correct..

Yup

4 posted on 10/18/2008 5:03:56 PM PDT by Soliton (Faith is an act of love; Love is an act of faith)

that intelligent design is not a science nor is it particularly "intelligent."

5 posted on 10/18/2008 5:06:27 PM PDT by Clemenza (PRIVATIZE FANNIE AND FREDDIE! NO MORE BAILOUTS!)

Yes, Evofascism is everywhere.

Have you EVER added anything to a conversation?

6 posted on 10/18/2008 5:09:27 PM PDT by Soliton (Faith is an act of love; Love is an act of faith)

that intelligent design is not a science nor is it particularly "intelligent."

You said it better than the supremes.

7 posted on 10/18/2008 5:14:42 PM PDT by org.whodat ( "the Whipped Dog Party" , what was formally the republicans.)

Have you EVER added anything to a conversation?

I must have added something to get a response like that!

Considering that the answer to your question was obvious long before you asked it, I must conclude that your just whining.

8 posted on 10/18/2008 5:23:36 PM PDT by Fichori (ironic: adj. 1 Characterized by or constituting irony. 2 Obamy getting beat up by a girl.)

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