REALL News - Vol 07 No 09 - 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Volume: 7
Issue: Number 9
Date: September 1999

This issue of The REALL News focuses on the aftermath of the Kansas Board of Education's decision to remove evolution and references to the age of the Earth and universe from its science curriculum. The article, written by David Bloomberg, also draws parallels to the science standards in Illinois and discusses the implications for the presidential race.

Kansas Evolution Decision's Aftermath

The lead article details the controversy surrounding the Kansas Board of Education's vote. The author expresses satisfaction not with the board members themselves, but with the media's coverage, which highlighted their lack of scientific understanding. The decision led to widespread outcry, with the governor of Kansas calling it "out of sync with reality." Some members of the science panel even issued statements denouncing the new standards.

Similarities in Illinois, Impacts in Presidential Race

The article then shifts focus to Illinois, where Molleen Matsamura of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) noted that the state's standards contain "sins of omission" by not including the word "evolution." While not as severe as Kansas's decision, the author argues that Illinois' standards are still problematic and need to be changed. The Kansas standards are described as worse because they removed nearly all references to evolution and the age of the Earth and universe, while also subtly suggesting schools teach material from creationist organizations like the Institute for Creation Research.

The author explains that the media attention on Kansas provides an opportunity to highlight issues with Illinois' own state standards. Letters were sent to the Chicago Tribune and the State Journal-Register, as well as to the new State Superintendent, Glenn McGee, pointing out that his predecessor, Superintendent Spagnolo, had removed "evolution" without a clear scientific or educational justification, likely due to past experiences in Virginia. The author also recounts speaking out against the vague standards at a Board meeting, where their concerns, along with others, were ignored.

It is noted that the Board is supposed to consider updates to the standards every three years. Since two years had passed since the current standards were finalized, the author called on Superintendent McGee and the Board to review the science standards and reinstate evolution as the foundation of biology. The article suggests that if the response is unsatisfactory, REALL may need to take further action to bring the issue to the attention of scientists, educators, and the media as the three-year mark approaches.

Media Coverage and External Resources

The article mentions that numerous newspapers and TV news shows covered the story. It directs readers to www.skepticnews.com for a collection of links related to the topic, noting that this site is run by REALL's own Editor Wally.

Presidential Campaign Addendum

In a late addition, the article addresses the stances of presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore on the issue. Bush's spokeswoman stated that he believes children should be exposed to different theories and that both creationism and evolution ought to be taught, with decisions left to states and local school boards. Gore's spokesman initially said the vice president favors teaching evolution but that localities should be free to decide on creationism. However, this was later clarified to state that Gore supports teaching creationism within the context of religious courses, not science courses.

Eugenie Scott, executive director of NCSE, is quoted expressing dismay at the political compromises being made. She likens the situation to a compromise where "two plus two equals five" when the answer should clearly be four. The article concludes that while Gore's clarification is better, it still resembles the problematic compromise Scott described.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the conflict between scientific consensus and creationist viewpoints in public school science education. The REALL News clearly advocates for the teaching of evolution as a foundational principle of biology, criticizing attempts to remove or downplay it in school curricula. The editorial stance is critical of political compromises that undermine scientific accuracy and education, emphasizing the importance of reason and evidence in understanding the world, echoing sentiments from figures like James Randi and Galileo.