"USA Today" July 25, 2001

Wording in education bill sparks evolution concerns
by Tamara Henry

WASHINGTON - Groups representing science teachers are battling
little-noticed language inserted into President Bush's education bill that
they argue will open the door to, or even encourage, teaching creationism
in public schools.

A conference committee has begun to work out differences between the House
and Senate versions of the legislation that updates the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. The language in question, sponsored by Sen. Rick
Santorum, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, is in the
Senate bill as a non-binding "sense of the Senate." The amendment,
approved 91-8, states:

"Good science education should prepare students to distinguish the data or
testable theories of science from philosophical or religious claims that
are made in the name of science.

Where biological evolution is taught, the curriculum should help students
to understand why this subject generates so much continuing controversy, and
should prepare students to be informed participants in discussions
regarding the subject."

Santorum says his aim is to "make sure we teach science in science class
and that we don't teach religious or philosophical theories without having
them scientifically tested."  In his view, evolution can still fit in the
category of theory. "Evolution is now taught as a given. We shouldn't stop
questioning and testing theories simply because they happen to be
pervasively believed."

Eight Republicans opposed the amendment as "inappropriate federal
intrusion into a local matter." The National Science Teachers Association, the
National Association of Biology Teachers and the American Geological
Institute also are opposed.

David Applegate, director of governmental affairs for the American
Geological Institute, says Santorum's amendment may sound evenhanded but
is really an effort to make sure creationism is discussed when evolution is
taught.

Adds Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education: "It will
encourage the teaching of creationism.  If a teacher is looking for a
loophole or justification to bring non-scientific views into the
curriculum, this amendment can be interpreted that way."

The evolution/creationism debate has been going on for years at the local
and state level. It reached a peak in 1999 when the Kansas state school
board voted to ban questions about a certain aspect of evolution from
state assessment tests. But the vote was later overturned when several board
members who supported the changes were defeated in the 2000 election.

Scott says bills that disrupt teaching of evolution continue to be
introduced in 2001 in various state legislatures.

Senate Democrats, including Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., support the
language in the amendment. Kennedy's spokesman, Jim Manley, says critics
"are giving more credence to this language than it may, in fact, deserve."
The teaching of creationism, he says, "is obviously not what people up
here intended it to do when we passed this thing. It's awfully nebulous
language."

The amendment is not binding, Manley adds, and may not survive a final
vote.

Copyright 2001 USA TODAY

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/july01/2001-07-25-creationism.htm