Posted on 12/14/2005 6:23:06 AM PST by PatrickHenry
An education oversight panel has put off a final recommendation on the state's biology teaching standards at the urging of a state senator who wants alternatives to evolution - including creationism - taught in classrooms.
The Education Oversight Committee voted Monday to recommend approval of the state's biology content standards, but by an 8-7 vote, the panel removed for further study the wording that deals with teaching evolution.
The committee plans to put together a panel of scientists and science teachers to advise committee members on the biology standards dealing with evolution, JoAnne Anderson, the committee's executive director, said Tuesday.
State Sen. Mike Fair, a panel member, wants the education department to change the standards to encourage teaching alternatives to the theory of evolution. Fair, R-Greenville, also has proposed a bill that would give lawmakers more say on biology curriculum.
The Education Department writes standards teachers must follow in designing their daily lessons. The State Board of Education must give those standards final approval. The Education Oversight Committee can recommend the board approve or reject those standards.
The head attorney for the state Department of Education said he didn't think committee members are authorized to change the standards.
"This is unprecedented," attorney Dale Stuckey said. "It's my interpretation of the law that [EOC members] have no authority to change the standards."
Anderson said Tuesday that is not the committee's intent. The committee issued a news release clarifying that it does not have the authority to revise content standards.
"We are asking our colleagues at the State Department of Education for recommendations of individuals from the science community who can assist the committee in bringing about a resolution."
Fair said he wants to encourage "critical analysis of a controversial subject in the classroom."
State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, a Democrat, said Fair was trying to derail teaching standard revisions she said have wide support in academia. The agency recently conducted a yearlong review of key subjects and basic knowledge all science teachers in public schools must teach.
Current biology curriculum includes Charles Darwin's 19th century theory that life evolved over millions of years from simple cells that adapted to their environment. Creationism relies on the biblical explanation that mankind's origin is the result of a divine action.
In November, the S.C. Board of Education approved changes to science standards some teachers said needed clarification. The oversight committee put off voting on the rules in October to give Fair more time to lobby education officials.
Karen Floyd, a Republican candidate for state education superintendent, has said she will encourage the teaching of intelligent design.
Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, said he supports Fair's efforts because "there are other ideas that can be addressed as to how this world came about."
One school official, Lexington-Richland 5 science supervisor Kitty Farnell, said the committee's questioning of educators' work sets "a terrible example for our students."
"It's an embarrassment," she said.
parabolic, unless it's a very fast projectile.
Your comments just don't make sense to me.
We expose dividing cells to radiation. Some of them have altered genomes.
Is it really such a stretch to infer that a photon or neutron or whatever hit the replicating genetic material at just the right time and place to disrupt the copying of one base?
We expose dividing cells to certain chemicals that are in some ways similar to the DNA/RNA bases. Again, mutations occur; isn't that what one would expect if the similar chemical got in the way?
We observe mutations in nature. We know that there is background radiation and all sorts of weird chemicals. Shouldn't some mutation be expected? Why not?
"f evolution depends on accident, it admits God."
Natural selection is not random.
Conic Section placemarker
I agree that if 100% OF "THE PEOPLE" rejected God, it means nothing.. They were still created by him.. What is, is, what ain't, ain't..
However that is a fantasy.. I'm not used to considering fantasy.. For neither has ever happened.. Even those worshipping a tree, as God, are still trying to satisfy a NATURAL need.. not an abnormal one.. has best their qualia allows them.. The only wierd ones are those that reject God as a concept.. even Agnostics are less weird..
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so, and will follow it by suppressing opposition, subverting all education to seize early the minds of the young, and by killing, locking up, or driving underground all heretics.
Raise a child to be pig-ignorant and guess what you get?
Is that better or worse than the usual "Nazi" post we get here?
Doesn't matter, I guess, as the poster suffers an automatic loss of all credibility in either case.
I recognize that one. Robert A. Heinlein.
And just how old would you like the earth to be?
I've been noticing that our little troll for the day changes syntax in nearly every post demonstrating that he's copying all his dishonest little lies from various sources. He must be a member of one of those lie your way into heaven churches.
In fact, it does.
This is always learned too late in politics.
My position on slavery? I don't consider it is wrong to have slaves.
375 posted on 10/08/2005 5:49:05 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Government is running amuck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 311 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
If I spill my beer would that count as a mutation?
Of course!
With religion or politic (same thing) that might be true..
With Christ, NO.. Christ came to make a family not an organization of belief, basically a club.. or choir.. or a club with a choir..
With Jesus "the Christ(messiah)" its a matter of WHOM you are not what you believe.. which trumps your question.. Not all christians are christians.. Putting puppies in an oven(church) don't make them cookies..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.