"The Daily Herald" (Everett, Wash.)
August 21, 2001
Science teacher's position approved

By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer

MARYSVILLE -- Marysville school board members Monday approved the contract
of a former Skagit County biology teacher who drew national attention for
introducing a form of creationist theory to public school students.

And though the district has hired Roger DeHart to teach science, officials
have yet to determine what kind of science he will teach.

One thing appears certain: DeHart won't be able to introduce books,
pamphlets or papers on the theory of intelligent design.

Though his employment application was earlier approved by the high school
principal, DeHart's employment came into question by the district when
officials found out about DeHart's controversial past. School board members,
who have a say about whether potential teachers are hired, discussed the
matter and approved DeHart Monday.

Reading from a prepared statement, Superintendent Linda Whitehead said
during Monday night's school board meeting that DeHart comes to the district
with some controversy but that he remains a highly ranked teacher.

However, Whitehead continued, "we will be specific with the teacher in
question regarding instructional and curriculum policies, procedures and
expectations -- including basic and supplementary material."

After the meeting, Whitehead said she would meet with DeHart later this week
to determine what branch of science and at what level, whether high school
or junior high, DeHart will teach.

DeHart has said that he was hired by the district to teach high school
biology. District officials said earlier that they were considering
assigning DeHart to earth science as opposed to biology. Earth science
focuses on geology and doesn't touch on evolution, which is part of the
biology curriculum at Marysville.

DeHart believes in the theory of how life began called intelligent design,
which argues against the mainstream scientific view that random genetic
mutations and the natural selection of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution
led to life on earth.

For 10 years while a biology teacher at Burlington-Edison School District in
Skagit County, DeHart used the book "Of Pandas and People," to supplement
his biology curriculum. The book makes a case for intelligent design, the
theory that life is complex enough that a higher power had to have
participated.

Each year, he set aside the last day of a 10-day section on evolution to
talk about design theory. He says he presented it as an alternative to
evolution and left unanswered the question of the designer's identity.

The American Civil Liberties Union intervened, threatening to sue
Burlington-Edison School District if DeHart didn't stop. Opponents of DeHart
formed a vocal group called the Burlington-Edison Committee for Science
Education, and routinely accused DeHart of trying to sneak religion into a
public classroom.

DeHart's teaching habits brought national attention, including an appearance
on CNN, and stories in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.

As a compromise to the curriculum dilemma, the Burlington district and
DeHart agreed that he could bring up the discussion of intelligent design if
he tempered that with mainstream evolutionary teachings.

Last year, Burlington school officials had to reiterate to DeHart that he
stick to the biology textbook. He said he did. But the district decided to
reassign DeHart to earth science.

DeHart quit the Burlington district.

On Monday, Marysville's Superintendent Whitehead said she has questioned
science teachers in her district about what they teach and all have said
they never have used the supplemental materials DeHart has previously used
in his biology classes in Skagit County.

Whitehead said that what DeHart has introduced before to his biology classes
is "not acceptable." Then the superintendent corrected herself by saying
that any supplemental material DeHart intends on introducing to his class
will have to get prior approval of the district's Instructional Material
Committee, which is governed by the superintendent and the assistant
superintendent.

DeHart has said previously that he promised Marysville officials that he
wouldn't mention design theory in the classroom. He said he's willing to
abide by the approved curriculum, which recognizes only evolution as the
theory of life.

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097
or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.
 

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