What Really Happened On The Kansas School Board? | The Institute for Creation Research

 
What Really Happened On The Kansas School Board?

It's now common knowledge that on August 11, 1999, the Kansas Board of Education (KBOE) voted to de-emphasize evolution in Kansas public school science classes. Unfortunately, what we think we know as portrayed by the media is contrary to the actual facts.

Once the news broke, it was obvious that evolutionists were in a frenzy, and you would think their world had collapsed. But my investigation quickly showed that neither the media nor the evolutionary "experts" were presenting the facts accurately.

Reading the standards without the discernment borne of years in creation ministry would lead one to wonder why the evolutionists were so upset. Evolution-related concepts are prominent throughout, with specific recommendations that students learn the details of natural selection, mutation, genetic recombination, etc. Evolution-related concepts are actually more prevalent than before. Why were evolutionists raising such a fuss?

Perhaps it was because on tests, students would no longer be required to answer as if they personally believed in evolution. Students are, however, still required to understand evolutionary related concepts.

Perhaps it was because careful definitions of science and the limitations of science were given. No longer were small variations (microevolution) within the species paraded as if they were evidence for large-scale macroevolution. All of the standard evidences for microevolution were repeated (unfortunately there are no evidences for macroevolution, so none were included). Present also were scientific discussions of some of the evidence which doesn't point toward evolution, all of which had been systematically censored from previous documents.

Earlier, the KBOE had commissioned a group of science teachers and writers to update teaching standards for the schools, and no confrontation was intended. But when the draft reached the board, it was noticed that in a statement promising non-discrimination to different belief systems and students, any mention of "creed" or "religious belief" was conspicuously omitted. This led to closer inspection of the document, which revealed the writers group had followed the lead of the abusive California science framework and a later one by the National Academy of Sciences in that it contained abundant, aggressive teaching of macroevolution and potential violations of the rights of students and teachers of other viewpoints. So, the board commissioned a second group of writers to amend the work of the first. This revised document was the one which was adopted.

Thus, we see that the work of the KBOE was not motivated by a right-wing power play. Rather, it was the foiled power-play of the evolutionists who were caught trying to gain their ends by stealth.

One good outcome of the decision has been that school boards in several states have begun similar revisions. It would be worthwhile for each state to investigate to see just how many evolutionary stealth campaigns have so far been successful. Can lost ground be recaptured?

*Dr. John Morris is President of ICR.

Cite this article: John D. Morris, Ph.D. 1999. What Really Happened On The Kansas School Board?. Acts & Facts. 28 (11).

The Latest
NEWS
Liberty and the Word of God
“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts” (Psalm 119:45). July 4th is called Independence Day here in our country because on...

NEWS
July 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome...

NEWS
Valued Longtime ICR Employee Mary Smith Retires
Mary Morris Smith, an employee of the Institute for Creation Research for many years, has retired. The second daughter of ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris...

NEWS
Man of Science, Man of God: George Washington Carver
Who:  George Washington Carver What: Father of Modern Agriculture When: 1864 or 1865 – January 5, 1943 Where: Diamond Grove,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Scopes Monkey Trial: A Battle of Worldviews
Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, and its statue of William Jennings Bryan Image credit: M. Mueller The Scopes Monkey...

ACTS & FACTS
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Unsung Heroes of the Genome
Evolutionary theory holds that all living things came about through random, natural processes. So conventional scientists believe the genome has developed...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 1: Tiny Clues of a Grand Picture
Yosemite National Park in California is a sure source of stunning scenery. It’s no wonder that American naturalist John Muir persuaded President...

ACTS & FACTS
From Inference to Theory: A Common Design Case Study
Without a doubt, humans, chimpanzees, and other organisms share similar features. An early explanation was that these features reflect similar designs...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: T. rex
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Entering By The Door
Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation...