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Friday, April 15, 2005
Ind. Gov't. - Evolution flap riles East Porter
"Evolution flap riles East Porter" is the headline to this story today in the Gary Post-Tribune, which unfortunately does not archive its stories. It follows up on a story Wednesday in the Munster (NW Indiana) Times, quoted in this ILB entry. Some quotes from today's story:
The East Porter County School Board has delayed the adoption of biology textbooks because they don’t mention creationism, a theory that a divine being is responsible for the creation of life. * * *Board member Tim Bucher said he wished the books were more balanced and mentioned there were other theories besides evolution.
“I believe it’s a theory of evolution, not a fact of evolution.”
Bucher, who described himself as a fundamentalist Christian who believes the Bible literally, said he hasn’t seen the recommended texts from Prentice Hall and Holt yet. “I’m trying to be a realist along with my Christian faith. At least let the kids know about it,” he said of creationism. “We have people on the committee who we respect. Once in awhile, we ought to look at the books we approve anyway.”
Superintendent Roger Luekens said the book would likely be adopted once the board looks at it. “I am concerned with textbooks teaching to the state standards and not trying to dictate someone’s faith.” * * *
Robert Rivers, dean of the School of Education at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, said creationism is not a scientific theory. Rivers was part of the statewide committee that developed the state’s science standards. “It’s a faith-based approach,” he said of creationism. “It would be appropriate in a philosophy or social studies class that examines various religious approaches for explanations of the conditions of man.”
Rivers, a former high school biology teacher and evangelical Christian, said the teaching of evolution and natural selection has been a cornerstone of modern biology.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 15, 2005 12:35 PM
Posted to Indiana Government