[_ Old Earth _] Evolution lesson plan goes in for redesign

[Lewis]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Disputed teaching material used by Ohio public school students that questions evolutionary theory is headed back to the state committee that wrote the first version.

The Ohio Board of Education voted 11-4 Tuesday to delete a science standard and correlating lesson plan that encourages students to seek evidence for and against evolution. Critics had called the material an opening to teach intelligent design, which holds that life is so complex it must have been created by a higher authority.

"It is deeply unfair to the children of this state to mislead them about science," said board member Martha Wise, who pushed to eliminate the material.

The 2002 science standards said students should be able to "describe how scientists continue to investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory." The standards included a disclaimer that they do not require the teaching of intelligent design.

The board vote represents the latest setback for the intelligent design movement.

In December, a federal judge barred the school system in Dover, Pa., from teaching intelligent design alongside evolution in high school biology classes. The judge said that intelligent design is religion masquerading as science, and that teaching it alongside evolution violates the separation of church and state.

Also last year, a federal judge ordered the school system in suburban Atlanta's Cobb County to remove from biology textbooks stickers that called evolution a theory, not a fact.

Supporters of the eliminated passage pledged to force another vote.

"We'll do this forever, I guess," said board member Michael Cochran.

In approving Wise's motion, the board rejected a competing plan to request a legal opinion from the state attorney general on the constitutionality of the science standards. Wise said the board could do that if the committee recommends a replacement.

Board member Deborah Owens Fink, who voted against eliminating the lesson plan, said it was unfair to deny students the chance to use logic to question a scientific theory.

"We respect diversity of opinion in every other arena," said Owens Fink, from Akron.

 

[Lewis]

In December, a federal judge barred the school system in Dover, Pa., from teaching intelligent design alongside evolution in high school biology classes. The judge said that intelligent design is religion masquerading as science, and that teaching it alongside evolution violates the separation of church and state.

These people are fools. Yup, I said it. And there will come a day when the wrath of God, will deal with them, as a matter of fact. God will deal with America as a whole, for turning her back on Him. No other country in the world has been so blessed and come to dominate the world so fast as a young country, like America. And she has turned her back on Him. She does not even want God taught in the schools. Teaching evolution to these kids is slap in the face to God.

 

[Late_Cretaceous]

Is it really a Christian attitude to sit back and say "let God deal with those fools"? Do you think that people who don't believe what you believe are beneath you and worthy of punishement. Do we not ALL fall short of God's grace? Are you above others in the eyes of God? Maybe these "fools" are not your enemy, maybe they are not bugs to be squashed while you giggle with glee. Perhaps they are there to challenge YOU. Would it be beneath you to reach out to the fool rather then mock him? When God came to earth as a man how did he treat the destible, the prostitutes and the lepers?

Your words are scary. Jesus is about mercy and love and forgivness. and ministry I see nothing Chirstlike in what you have said.

 

[Khristeeanos]

I have a lot of friends that go to school in Cobb County GA. In fact, our church currently meets in Kennesaw Mountain High School, which is a Cobb County School.

We just had our Bible Study group leave and one couple has three children in KMHS.

Not sure if anybody cares. :wink: