Creationism vs. Darwinism in Education

CREATIONISM vs DARWINISM IN EDUCATION I NATIONAL SURVEY OF HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHERS (on teaching evolution) SOURCE: http://ncse.com/news/2008/05/evolution-creationism-americas-classrooms-002271 http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request-get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0060124] 75% YEAR SURVEY TAKEN 2007 N° OF PARTICIPATING 1. HOURS DEVOTED TO TEACHING BIOLOGY TEACHERS 939 Human Evolution General Evolution Creationism/ intelligent design 33% 25% 26% 25% 12% 17% 18% 18% 11% 9% 3% 5% 2% 9% 2% 5% 0% 1% 1% 1% Not covered at all 6-10 3-5 20+ 3-5 1-2 20+ 16-20 6-10 20+ 16-20 11-15 1-2 3-5 1-2 11-15 Not covere Not cove all 2. PARTICIPATING TEACHERS' PERSONAL BELIEFS IN EVOLUTION/ CREATIONISM/ INTELLIGENT DESIGN Human beings have developed over millions of years.but God guided 47% this process. Human beings have developed over millions of years...but God had no part in this process. God created human beings 28% pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so. 16% {...} 9% Believe Believe Believe in Intelligent Design in Evolution in Creationism No Answer No Opinion I TREATMENT OF EVOLUTION IN STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS (AS OF 2008) SOURCE: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/08/24/education/24evolutiongr1.ready.html http://www.ncse.com 1. STATES WHERE BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION Is treated straightforwardly and/or thoroughly Is mentioned briefly and/or unclearly Washington Montana Maine North Dakota Minnesota Oregon Idaho South Dakota Wisconsin Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York Michigan Wyoming Nebraska lowa Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware Maryland Nevada Indiana Utah Illinois Ohio w.Virginia Virginia Colorado California Kansas Missouri W Kentucky Arizona Tennessee North Caroliha New Mexico Oklahoma Arkansas Alaska South Carolina Mississippi Georgia Alabama Техas Louisiana Florida Hawaji 2. STATES WHERE HUMAN EVOLUTION Is mentioned directly Is implied but not mentioned explicitly Isn't mentioned Washington Montana Maine North Dakota Minnesota Oregon Idaho South Dakota Wisconsit Massachusetts New York Michigan DRhode Island Connecticut Wyoming Nebraska lowa Pennsylvania * New Jersey Delaware w.Virginia Maryland Nevada Indiana Utah Illinois Ohio Colorado California Kansas Virginia Missouri Kentucky Arizona Tennessee North Carolina Oklahoma Arkansas New Mexico Alaska South Carolina Mississippi Georgia Alabama Техas Louisiana ధ Florida Hawaii (lowa didn't have curriculum standards at state level in 2008) ITREATMENT OF EVOLUTION IN STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS (AS OF 2009) SOURCE: http://www.springerlink.com/content/e41527271423814p/fulltext.html http://ncse.com/news/2009/08/evolving-standards-004990) Excellent or Very Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory or Failing Washington Montana ž Maine North Dakota Minnesota Oregon Idaho South Dakota Wisconsin Massachusetts Michigan New York Wyoming Rhode Island Connecticut Pennsylvania New Jersey lowa Nevada Nebraska Indiana Delaware Maryland Utah fllinois Ohio W.Virginia Virginia Colorado California Kansas Missouri Kentucky Tennessee North Carolina Arizona New Mexico Oklahoma Arkansas Alaska South Carolina Mississippi Georgia Alabama Tехas Louisiana Florida Hawaii IV LEGAL CASES SOURCE: http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/evolution_state_news.html Almost every U.S. state (if not all) has had one legal challenge or another. Overall, there've been several lawsuits/bills passed (or attempted) across the country over the years. Here are just a few of many: + Creationism Darwinism E Support IE Against Washington Montana North Dakota Minnesota Maine Oregon Idaho South Dakota Wisconsin Massachusetts Michigan New York Wyoming Rhode Island Connecticut lowa Pennsylvania Nebraska New Jersey Delaware Maryland Nevada Indiana Utah ILlinois Ohio w.Virginia Virginia Colorado California Kansas Missouri Kentucky Arizona New Mexico Tennessee North Carolina Arkansas Oklahoma ississippi Georgia South Carolina labama Texas Alaska Louisiana Florida Hawaii ALABAMA MAY '08 ARKANSAS MAR '05 Academic Freedom Act (House Bill 923) dies. House Bill 2607 dies. Act, if passed, would've allowed creationism/intelectual design to be taught in schools. Would have allowed intelligent design to be taught as a parallel to evolutionary theory. FLORIDA CALIFORNIA MAY '08 JAN '06 HB 1483/SB 2692 (Evolution Academic Freedom Act) dies - Hurst et al. V. Newman et al - group of parents against Frazier Mountain High School for running a 'Philosophy of Design' course. compromise not reached. Legislation aimed to 'protect the right of teachers to objectively present Settlement reached. scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution.' KANSAS FEB '07 Kansas Board of Education approves new science standards, replacing old standards, that permitted the teach- ing of creationism/intelligent design in public school science classes. MISSOURI MAY '08 HB 2554 act dies. Would've granted teachers 'academic freedom to teach scientific evidence regarding evolution. MONTANA JAN '07 LOUISIANA SEP '09 House Joint Resolution 21 introduced Louisiana Science Education Act (Jun '08): "may use supplemental textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an Supports "local adoption of a science curriculum that is based on sound scientific principals" and separation of church and state. objective manner." Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE) adopted January '09 Act provision that prohibited "the promotion of religious views" NEW MEXICO MAR '07 Bills SB 371 & SJM 9 dead. Bills, if Complaints filed re: board allowing teachers to use creationist supplementary material in despite Act provision. passed: Board allegedly ignored Louisiana DOE professionals and allows creationists to dictate and dominate complaint procedure and meeting. Would've allowed teachers (when teaching theory of biological origins) to present scientific info covering the strengths/weaknesses of a theory ---- and be protected from any consequences that might arise from doing so. Would've encouraged students to critically analyze the scientific info presented and reach their own conclusions --- free of any penalties of doing so. MISSISSIPPI JAN '07 HB 625 fails. If successfully passed, it would've given local school boards authority to teach alternatives to evolution (creationism or intelligent design). TENNESSEE JUN '07 Senate Resolution 17 introduced - didn't pass. If passed, Commissioner of Education would have had to justify why creationism wasn't taught in public OHIO JUL '09 8th grade science teacher, John Freshwater, countersues Mount Vernon School Board and others for unfair schools. dismissal. Freshwater was originally sued over a year before for supposed preaching in his class. GEORGIA DEC '06 Selman v Cobb County - settlement reached SOUTH CAROLINA MAY '09: SB 873 introduced - neutrality bill. Stickers on science textbooks describing evolution as theory, not fact. If passed, board of education would be required to review all science curricula to ensure it doesn't sway either way in terms of "those who believe in no religion over those who hold religious beliefs." Cobb County Board of Education and School District agrees not to restore stickers. Board ordered to reimburse $166,659 of Selman's legal fees. 16-20 11-15 6-10 Vermont New Hampshire Vermont New Hampshire New Hampshire Vermont New Hampshire