Public School Controversy
"Fifty studies were reviewed that surveyed opinions on teaching origins in public schools. The vast majority found about 90% of the public desired that both creation and evolution or creation only be taught in the public schools. About 90% of Americans consider themselves creationists of some form, and about half believe that God created humans in their present form within the past 10,000 years. In America, about 15% of high school teachers teach both evolution and creation, and close to 20% of high school science teachers and about 10,000 scientists (including more than 4,000 life scientists) reject both macroevolution and theistic evolution. Although the vast majority of Americans desire both creation and evolution taught in school, the evolutionary naturalism worldview dominates, revealing a major disparity between the population and the ruling élite." Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal Vol. 13, No. 2
Textbooks in Public Schools: Education or Indoctrination? aricle by Mike Riddle
Creation and the Schools: Evolutionary humanism and ominous trends in modern education.Free 57 minute audio seminar by Henry Morris (6.7MB WAV file)
How to Teach the Controversy Legally video by the Discovery Institute (17.5MB Windows Media file) Want to teach the scientific controversy over evolution but aren't sure what is allowable? This short video clearly and concisely summarizes the legal framework for teaching about evolution. A great resource for teachers, school board members, and parents, this video features interviews with scientists and legal scholars and explains how to teach the controversy over evolution in a legally responsible manner.
Links to General Resources and News on Teaching Origins in Public Schools
- A who's who of players in the battle of biology class The Christian Science Monitor 12/7/04
- AAAS says ID theory should not be in science classrooms - top ten list of science policy stories for 2002 12/19/02
- Citizens for Scientific Integrity - An online resource for teachers in Texas
- Columbine Victim's Dad Wants Darwinism's Weaknesses Revealed, Truth Taught in Schools by Agape Press 10/28/03
- Creation-Evolution and Constitutionally Permissible Scientific Inquiry in Public Schools
- Creationism battle heats up in US public schools By Mike Matthews
- Creationism v. Evolutionism in America's Public Schools By Alex Rainert
- Evolution and Creationism in Public Education A report by the People For the American Way Foundation
- Evolution and Our Schools by Pathlights
- Fifty-two Ohio Scientists Call for Academic Freedom on Darwin's Theory by J. Sjogren & R. DiSilvestro
- Intelligent Design network IDnet was organized in connection with the debate over the Kansas Science Education Standards, and their objective is to promote evidence-based science education with regard to the origin of the universe and of life and its diversity
- How to Teach the Controversy Legally video by the Discovery Institute (17.5MB Windows Media file)
- Into the Schools online video by by the CRSEF
- Introducing
Creationism into the Public Schools
- IMPACT No. 20 November 1974
by Henry M. Morris, Ph. D.* - Key Law Review Articles About Teaching Evolution by Discovery Institute
- Not Your Daddy's Fundamentalism - Intelligent Design in the Classroom Book Review by the Discovery Institute
- Proposed SBC resolution calls for abandoning public schools May 4, 2004
- Religion in the Public Schools - Anti-Defamation League
- Remaining Factual Errors In Biology Textbooks, as of April 2004 by the Discovery Institute
- Resources for Parents and School Board Members by Discovery Institute. For those interested in improving the teaching of evolution in your local schools.
- Teaching the Science of Creation in Public Schools by Richard Overman
- Texans for Better Science Education!
- The threads in forum Creation-Evolution in the Schools
- The Attitude of Various Populations toward Teaching Creation and Evolution in Public Schools Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal Vol. 13, No. 2
- The Massachusetts Constitution: A Model for Public Education from the Hand of John Adams by Doug Sharp
News and Resources from Specific US States
Arizona
- Struggles in science - Arizona educators revisit controversy over evolution 5/2/04
Kansas
- Kansas Science Standards by the Intelligent Design network, inc.
- Truth About the Kansas Science Standards Tornado by the Creation Science Association of Mid America
Georgia
- Scopes redux 2/6/04
- Cox will Recommend 'Evolution' Stay in Curriculum 2/5/04
- Georgia School Chief Drops 'Evolution' Plan 2/5/04
- Darwinists eager to avoid debate 2/3/04
- 'Evolution' Should Stay in Georgia Science Standards, Governor Says 2/2/04
- Cox: 'Evolution' a negative buzzword 1/30/04
- Georgia School Official Wants No 'Evolution' 1/30/04
- Cobb issues evolution guidelines to teachers 1/9/03 guidelines advise teachers to moderate class discussion carefully and if conflicts arise, "to promote a sense of scientific inquiry and understanding of scientific methods, and to distinguish between scientific and philosophical or religious issues."
- Cobb Cobb teachers ponder new rule 9/28/02
- Creation-Evolution The Eternal Debate Forum Cobb County Discussion Forum
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
- Candidates Say Schools Have Right to Question Evolution 5/29/04
- Montana Creationism Bid Evolves Into Unusual Fight 2/29/04
- County Attorney Confirms Opposition to Origins Decision 2/6/04
- Origins debate deeper than Darby 1/28/04
Ohio
- Creation-Evolution The Eternal Debate Forum Ohio OKs Creation in Science Class
- Fifty-two Ohio Scientists Call for Academic Freedom on Darwin's Theory by J. Sjogren & R. DiSilvestro
- Ohio Citizens for Science Anti-creation organization
- Ohio--first US state to teach 'intelligent design' March 2002 by Answers in Genesis
- Ohio Science Standards and Legislation by the Intelligent Design network, inc.
- Science Excellence For All Ohioans - Ohio Science Standards - Intelligent Design vs. Evolution
- Teach-the-Controversy Update - The Ohio Wedge Updates on the Ohio Controversy by CreationDigest.com
Ohio News
- Ohio board OKs criticism of evolution 3/10/04
- Guide sparks debate - 'Intelligent Design' Theory will be Heard in Classroom 2/15/04
- Creationists Seeking Subtle Entrance to Science Classes 2/6/04
- Darwin Demoted in Ohio -- January 2003 Education Reporter
- Darwin in the Classroom - Ohio Allows Alternatives 12/17/02 by John G. West Jr. Evolution on National Review Online
- Ohio Strengthens Teaching of Evolution 12/12/02 NYTimes board unanimously approved on standards that more strongly advocate the teaching of evolution while letting students fully criticize the legitimacy of the theory.
- Ohio Panel Gives Evolution Nod 10/14/02 NYTimes A state school board panel Monday recommended that Ohio science classes emphasize both evolution and the debate over its validity.
- Ohio OKs Creation in Science Class 10/15/02 NYTimes. The state school board said Tuesday it will adopt a science curriculum that leaves it up to school districts whether to teach the concept of ``intelligent design,'' which holds that the universe is guided by a higher intelligence.
- Ohio Board Backs Academic Freedom and Encourages Critical Analysis of Evolution October 15, 2002 After months of deliberation and debate, the State Board of Education in Ohio has added language to its proposed science standards that will encourage public schools in that state to teach scientific criticisms of evolutionary theory.
- Panel approves science guidelines 10/15/02 A State Board of Education committee yesterday approved a set of science standards that struck a delicate balance between teaching evolution and allowing for classroom debate of the theory.
Pennsylvania
- Intelligent Design' Defense Opens CBS News Oct. 17, 2005. Michael Behe testified Monday that evolution alone can't explain complex biological processes and he believes God is behind them.
- Evolution Debate In Federal Court CBS News Sept. 26, 2005. Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial, the latest legal chapter in the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools is to unfold in federal court.
- Defending “design” in Dover (Pennsylvania, USA) School policy that questions Darwin and informs about intelligent design goes to federal court. by Pam Sheppard, staff writer, AiG–USA. September 26, 2005
- University of California sued for discriminating against Christian courses Some college-prep classes deemed “too religious”. AiG–USA. September 6, 2005
- Darwin v. 'Design' in Dover 11 parents, ACLU sue, alleging religion in curriculum 12/15/04
- Pennsylvania Parents File First-Ever Challenge to “Intelligent Design” Instruction in Public Schools "Intelligent Design" is Religious Argument, not Science, Say Parents. December 14, 2004
- Anti-evolution teachings gain foothold in U.S. schools - Evangelicals see flaws in Darwinism San Francisco Chronicle 11/30/04
- ‘Intelligent design’ voted in A Pennsylvania school board recently voted to include intelligent design in the district's science curriculum. 10/19/04
- Professors argue intelligent design 1/1/03 School District recently added new language to its mission statement that permits science teachers to discuss theories of intelligent design alongside evolution.
- Pa. school district statement sparks evolution debate Associated Press, 12/26/2002
Tennessee
- Creationism vs. evolution central debate behind rejection of textbook Blount County Board of Education denied the adoption of three new biology textbooks because they teach evolution but do not cover creationism. 4/5/03
Texas
West Virginia
- 'Intelligent design' believers, sect seek curriculum change Raelians support ID movement. 1/14/03
- State school board debates 'intelligent design' 2/20/03
- West Virginia Science Standards by the Intelligent Design network, inc.
- ID Network's Suggestions and Implementing Recommendations for Proposed West Virginia SCIENCE – POLICY 2520.3, 1/06/03
Wisconsin
International / Non US
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Blair link to schools that take Creation literally IoS investigation: Critics voice serious doubts over Christian academies run by millionaire car dealer and backed by Prime Minister. 6/13/04
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Darwin back in Italy's schools The Scientist 4/29/04
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No evolution for Italian teens The Scientist 4/28/04. Scientists, teachers shocked by plan to cut evolutionary teaching in secondary school
Quotes
An evolutionist teacher acknowledges exploiting students’ trust when he preaches evolution’s doctrines in the classroom. “…I use that trust to effectively brainwash them…our teaching methods are primarily those of propaganda. We appeal---without demonstration---to evidence that supports our position. We only introduce arguments and evidence that supports the currently accepted theories and omit or gloss over any evidence to the contrary.” Mark Singham, “Teaching and Propaganda,” Physics Today, (vol. 53, June 2000), p. 54; as quoted by Dr. Henry B. Morris, Impact, supra.