Posted on 08/02/2006 3:46:10 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
Darwin won.
Moderate Kansas State Board of Education candidates pulled off a victory Tuesday, gathering enough might to topple the board’s 6-4 conservative majority.
A victory by incumbent Janet Waugh, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Lawrence, and wins by Republican moderates in two districts previously represented by conservatives left the tables turned heading into the Nov. 7 general election.
“If we change the board around, we’ll be able to make decisions that we think are right for our students,” Lawrence school board member Craig Grant said.
Grant had worked to defeat the conservatives who attracted international attention and ridicule for the state after adopting science standards critical of evolution.
Waugh held onto her seat in District 1, rebuffing a challenge from conservative Jesse Hall who, according to the last campaign finance report, had raised about three times more money. But Waugh collected 63 percent of the vote.
“Obviously money can’t buy elections,” she said. “I think the people of Kansas are tired of being the laughingstock not only of the nation but the world.”
Not all the conservatives were defeated.
Conservative incumbent John Bacon held his seat in District 3, which includes parts of Johnson County. Bacon won by a slim margin, with 49 percent. Challengers Harry McDonald, Olathe, the former president of Kansas Citizens for Science, and David Oliphant, also of Olathe, split the remaining vote.
Bacon faces Democrat Don Weiss in the general election.
In the District 5 race to represent a large part of western Kansas, conservative incumbent Connie Morris trailed moderate challenger Sally Cauble who at midnight had 54 percent of the vote with 556 of 609 precincts reporting.
Conservative Ken Willard held his seat in District 7 by a wide margin. He faces Democrat Jack Wempe in November.
And with few votes still to be counted at midnight, moderate Jana Shaver appeared to be the favorite for the District 9 seat. Shaver ran against Brad Patzer, son-in-law of outgoing conservative board member Iris Van Meter. At press time, Shaver had 58 percent of the vote. The winner faces Democrat Kent Runyan in the general election.The five races have attracted national attention as both sides battled for control of the board.Many wanted a shake-up after the 6-4 conservative majority altered the state’s science standards, rewriting the definition of science and adding criticism of evolution.
Proponents of Kansas’ latest standards say they encourage open discussion.
“Students need to have an accurate assessment of the state of the facts in regard to Darwin’s theory,” said John West, a vice president for the Center for Science and Culture at the Seattle-based, anti-evolution Discovery Institute.
The conservative board majority changed the rules on sex education, requiring parental permission before students participate in classes, though districts including Lawrence opted not to change their ways.
And the conservative majority pressed the issue further, considering an “abstinence-until-marriage” approach to sex education.
It also filled the state’s top education administrative seat with Bob Corkins — a conservative activist with no educational background who lobbied against increased school funding.
"Why do you constantly run this canard when it is patently false?"
You've already hit on the answer, grasshopper.
Footprints in the rice paper.
Hopefully job 1 will be to get rid of the creationist standards. But job 2 has to be to fire the hack that they hired as Education Commissioner.
And one last round of Connie and Cathy's theme song:
I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head, I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
Evolution has been about to fall every year since 1859.
That's a bit harsh. I'm sure they had the Vedic Creationists and Scientologists pulling for them.
Just the typical losers refrain ... I lost 'cuz they cheated, lied, etc.
In NC, all high school students are required to take Biology. There are few, if any, philosophy courses offered at the high school level.
I teach Biology at our local Community College . Believe me, in the Bible Belt you will are not able to discuss evolution without any reference to creationism because at least one student will ask you about it in class. You can not respond to them in the arrogant, condescending manner of many of the comments in this thread. When you offend some of the deepest held beliefs of your students, their minds will be closed to whatever information you have to give them.
I think both sides should remember that both creationism and evolution are theories. Since no one was there when it all happened, there is no way to PROVE either one of them beyond a shadow of a doubt so IMO there should be room to discuss them both in a rational manner.
I have no interest in preventing teachers from discussing anything relevant to the subject, and science does conflict with a literal reading of many Biblical passages.
What I object to is non-scientists in government agencies mandating flat-earth theories as reasonable alternatives to established science.
Why not teach the controversy concerning two plus two. after all, didn't Gödel prove that arithmetic is incomplete?
Yes, evolution is a scientific theory. Is it your position that creationism is a scientific theory?
"I think both sides should remember that both creationism and evolution are theories."
Creationism is a theological claim, evolution is a scientific theory. They are not the same kind of thing.
"Since no one was there when it all happened, there is no way to PROVE either one of them beyond a shadow of a doubt so IMO there should be room to discuss them both in a rational manner."
Science doesn't deal in proof. That being said, evolution has been supported beyond any reasonable doubt.
Creationism doesn't deserve to spend time in a science class as anything but a failed theological claim.
It would be interesting to see the reaction if creationism WERE treated as a scientific theory in science class. Let's put Genesis on the dissecting table and teach the controversy. Teach critical analysis, using Genesis as the casebook.
Observation supports the conclusion that Darwin usually wins.
Well, the place for them to teach their alternatives is in SUNDAY school.
Claiming victory after a sound defeat? Decided to adopt Democrat talking points, I see...
I don't understand why you have to be labeled a moderate conservative to understand how science works and how the scientific theories of evolution work.
So don't condescend. Suggest only the truth. Creationism is not a topic for biology class, and if you have any additional questions, check with your parents, pastor, minister, priest, or whatever.
Straight to the point, honest, and respectful of everyone's sensibilities.
I wonder what curse Pat will be putting on Kansas for its crime.
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