BATTLE OVER EVOLUTION EDUCATION CONTINUES IN GEORGIA AND KANSAS

GEORGIA: On 4 May 2005, a federal appeals court denied a request by the
school board of Cobb County, GA, to delay the removal of evolution disclaimers from its science textbooks.  School board officials ordered use of the disclaimers--which call evolution "a theory, not a fact"--in 2002.  A group of concerned parents responded with a lawsuit and US District Judge Clarence Cooper subsequently ruled the disclaimers unconstitutional.  Cobb County officials are appealing the decision, but for now, they will have to stick to the Court-ordered plan to remove the disclaimers this summer.  (See the 18 January 2005 Public Policy Report for
more details, www.aibs.org/public-policy-reports/public-policy-reports-2005_01_18.html).

KANSAS: The Kansas State Board of Education began its 'hearings' on evolution and intelligent design/creationism on 5 May 2005. The American Association for the Advancement of Science and other invited science organizations and scientists have refused to participate in what has been described as a kangaroo court designed to build public support for the Board's anticipated decision to reintroduce intelligent design/creationism into statewide science standards.

For more evolution education related information or to join your state's evolution list serve, please go to http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/teaching_evolution.html.