Posted on 05/12/2005 2:25:17 PM PDT by anguish
By DAVID KLEPPER
The Kansas City Star
TOPEKA — The state Board of Education's hearings on the teaching of evolution ended today with name calling and accusations from both sides.
And it became increasingly clear that the board's three-member subcommittee, which called for the hearings, favors a proposal calling for criticism of evolution to be allowed in the science curriculum. The board members accused mainstream science groups, who have boycotted the hearings, of being too afraid to stand up to questions about evolution. Several times, board members shook their heads and smirked as the attorney defending the teaching of evolution made his closing arguments.
“The board has been accused of being close minded, and the jury rigged,” said board member Kathy Martin, whose voice broke off at several points during an emotional speech. “I guess we'll leave it up to the public to decide.”
Attorney Pedro Irigonegaray, who is defending the way evolution is currently taught in public schools, attacked proponents of intelligent design and the board members who called for the hearings, accusing them of abusing the political process to insert their own narrow creationist views into public schools.
“Each penny taken by you, Mr. Calvert, for your witnesses, is a penny taken from Kansas children,” Irigonegaray said of intelligent design advocate John Calvert, who led the attack on evolution. He went on to say, “The case can certainly be made that the board has failed to meet some of the responsibilities by rejecting mainstream science and supporting the minority and the intelligent design movement.”
Irigonegaray refused to answer questions from board members and from Calvert. That prompted board chairman Steve Abrams to say he had broken the rules of the hearings. Abrams gave the time allotted to the cross-examination to Calvert, who proceeded to defend the changes he wants to see in the state science curriculum.
His proposal would incorporate greater criticism of the theory of evolution and allow alternatives to be taught. It would also change the definition of science that does not rely on natural causes. Calvert and others who support the change advocate intelligent design, the belief that the world's complexity can only be explained as being the work of a creator.
Calvert also attacked the methods used by Irigonegaray and mainstream science groups, accusing them of “character assassination.” He said the groups tried to paint him and others as ignorant zealots.
“Why wouldn't I shake the hand of Pedro?” Calvert asked. “I don't think this strategy deserves a handshake.”
Evo-ping. The last day of the sad Kansas "hearing".
Welcome to the world of Science, in Kansas ?
Hope the affairs of other subjects are fairing better in this state. Anyone want to start classes for people who contest the rebelious theory that the world is round ?
I look forward to their raging debate next month over whether or not the earth is actually at the center of our solar system. Some heretics would actually have you believe that it is the sun that is at the center! Hogwash and poppycock, I say! Bully for Kansas! Huzzah!
....scenes of.... 'Nazi science Munich'.....?
So, Kansas needs to change the definition of science in order to make this change workable. I was unaware that the definition was broken.
> He said the groups tried to paint him and others as ignorant zealots.
Oh, no. It wasn't the scientists who made the Creationists look like "ignorant zealots." The Creationists were quite skilled in that area all on their own.
Right back at you, clown.
I'd retract my statement, but I'm already late for the Kansas hearing on whether or not the moon is actually made of green cheese.
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Duh!
Next, we need to get equal time for the "fossils are hand-placed by god to test our faith" theory.
After all, nobody's ever *seen* a fossil form from an animal. Never replicated in the lab. This whole crazy "used to be living animals" theory is totally unproven!
Other heretics assert that the Universe was not created by Cthulu. Its ridiculous.
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