Muskegon Chronicle:
http://mu.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/20010313mevolutionmnewm.frm

Legislators aim to teach creation with evolution
 

Tuesday, March 13, 2001

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By Judy Putnam

chronicle Lansing Bureau WITH LOCAL REPORTS

Michigan students would learn that evolution is just one theory to explain
life and the "purposeful, intelligent design" by a god-like creator is another,
under legislation that's alarming some scientists.

Even if the bill by Rep. Robert Gosselin, R-Troy, were to pass, it would only affect
the state's nonmandatory "model curriculum." But questions about
creationism could be added to the Michigan Educational Assessment Test.

Gosselin wants evolution and natural selection taught as an unproven theory,
along with the competing idea that the world was created by "intelligent design."

"The public schools have gone too far in not allowing an equal playing field of
argumentation," Gosselin said. "The school has basically pushed the theory of a
superior being out the door because they say that's religious."

His bill would attempt to change the state's model curriculum for middle and
high school science classes, although T.J. Bucholz, a state Department of Education
spokesman, said it's unclear whether the Legislature could direct the state Board of
Education to make such changes.

The model curriculum is recommended to school districts, but they aren't required
to adopt it and wouldn't be required to teach the creation theory if the bill
passes.

State Rep. Barb Vander Veen, R-Allendale, 89th District, who cosponsored the bill,
said she merely wants both sides represented in every classroom.

"We're saying present the facts (of evolution and creationism) and let the
students decide," Vander Veen said. "All we're asking is that both sides are given
the same consideration with the scientific facts."

Educators say the state's real "model curriculum" is the MEAP, which has become a
measure of educational success in the state and caused school districts to "teach the
test." Passage of the bill could result in creationism questions on the MEAP test
because questions are taken from the state's model curriculum.

The bill has prompted shock from science educators throughout the state teachers who
watched the state of Kansas go through similar controversy over the past three
years only to return to an evolution model for schools.

"To have questions on the MEAP related to creationism is just simply (wrong)," said
Gregg Zulauf, retired director of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School
District's Mathematics-Science Center that serves teachers throughout the region. He
formerly taught physics, chemistry and computer science at Reeths-Puffer High
School.

"Do we start teaching astrology and all kinds of pseudo-science?" Zulauf said.
"There is no evidence whatsoever that creationism is a fact ... Evolution has a
whole lot of evidence to support it."

Zulauf said teachers should mention creationism and other beliefs in their
classes just to acquaint students with other views that exist. "But when I taught
physics, I mentioned astrology certainly didn't teach it. Kids need to be aware
there are different views out there but to teach it is going too far."

But another veteran science teacher thinks there's room for all theories. Lane Smith,
longtime director of Grand Haven High School's successful Science Olympiad
program, said he is a Christian who believes in the Bible and there is a place
in the public schools for competing ideas to evolution.

"Evolution is taught in schools and I believe there's room for other theories in
public schools. You can't teach half the story and that's what we've been doing all
these years," Smith said.

Gosselin's bill was introduced last month and drew nine co-sponsors, including the
Tri-Cities new state representative Barb Vander Veen, R-Allendale, and four
Republicans who sit on the House Education Committee. Vander Veen could not be reached
for comment.

Critics say it's a new twist on an old effort to give creationism equal time with
Darwin's theory of evolution in schools.

"It's creationism-lite," said Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National
Center for Science Education in Oakland, Calif. "It's trying to bash evolution
without being specific about what did happen."

Scott said Monday her center, a 20-year-old watchdog group, will issue an alert to
Michigan members. She estimated there are a few hundred members in the state, mostly
professors and civil libertarians.

"Citizens who want good science education in the state of Michigan had better be
looking over this bill's shoulder," Scott said. "The idea that living things shared
common ancestors is not one that scientists question."

A 1982 resolution by the state Board of Education opposes the teaching of
creationism, as a violation of the separation of church and state.

The teaching of creationism alongside evolution was struck down by the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1987. However, the court has ruled that schools can teach secular
and scientific alternatives to evolution.

Gosselin's bill may sidestep the issue of creationism by using what supporters call a
"big tent" approach. It's broad enough to accommodate creationism a belief by
fundamentalist Christians that God created the world at a specific point in time some
10,000 years ago as well as biologists who don't believe life was formed by organic
development.

Rep. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, a co-sponsor and chair of the House Education Committee,
said he has no immediate plans to bring up the bill, but he's not ruling it out.

"What Gosselin's bill does, it just forces the two to be placed side by side. If you
have one, you have to reference the other. Frankly, I think that's appropriate," he
said.

James Langeland, an assistant professor of biology at Kalamazoo College, said teaching
evolution as an unproven theory is bad science.

"Evolution is a fact it's not just a theory. The fact that life has changed over
time is a fact," he said.

He said the bill mixes religion and science, when the two should be separate.

"I'm all for teaching creation stories, but you should do it in a comparative religion
class," he said.

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