Why the South lost the Civil War????????????/

S.C. biology standards in limbo
Vote supports teaching human origin theories
By BILL ROBINSON
Staff Writer
A proponent of teaching various theories of human origin, which include
creationism, gained support Monday from the state's public school reform
oversight panel.

At the urging of Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, the Education Oversight
Committee voted 8-7 to strike from high school biology standards wording
that tied schools to teaching only evolution.

Fair wants schools to go beyond Darwinism, and oversight panel members said
they would draft new rules before February to address his concerns.

"What I'm trying to encourage is critical analysis of a controversial
subject in the classroom," Fair said.

What happens next is unclear.

"This is unprecedented," said Dale Stuckey, the state Department of
Education chief lawyer. "It's my interpretation of the law that (EOC
members) have no authority to change the standards."

The state Department of Education writes standards all teachers must follow
in designing their daily lessons. The oversight panel signs off on what the
agency and the state school board approve.

Monday's decision came after a tense, 75-minute debate in which state
Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, a Democrat, charged Fair with
trying to derail revisions in the teaching standards that emerged after
months of study and debate. She said those standards are widely supported in
teaching and science circles.

To which Fair quipped, "I don't know why there's so much resistance to
monkeying with the establishment."

The state Department of Education conducted a yearlong review of key
subjects and basic knowledge all science teachers in public schools must
present to students.

South Carolina's high school biology instruction incorporates the widely
acknowledged theory espoused by Charles Darwin, whose 19th century research
led him to conclude life evolved over millions of years from simple cells
that adapted to the environment.

Those who believe in creationism generally adhere to the biblical
explanation that mankind's origin is the result of a divine action.

Those two views have caused clashes elsewhere, including Kansas, where the
state school board recently voted to allow creationism to be taught in
public schools.

The S.C. Board of Education last month signed off on modifications to
science standards some teachers said needed clarification. The oversight
panel postponed a vote on those rules in October at the urging of Fair, one
of its members. He wanted more time to lobby the state Education Department
and the school board to relax the focus on evolution as the singular
approach to teaching high school biology.

He has legislation pending that calls on fellow lawmakers to have a say in
crafting how biology is taught in public schools.

Fair said Monday he is merely "trying to get students more engaged" in
looking at the origins of life from different perspectives. He said he is
not campaigning to put the teaching of "creationism" on par with evolution.

Monday's vote enraged educators from the college and public school ranks in
the audience.

"Science is not democracy," said Jerry Waldvogel, a Clemson University
professor.

"Science is not negotiated," said Doug Florian, a College of Charleston
professor.

"Science is based on evidence," said Joe Pollard, a Furman University
professor.

All three said they either had a role in evaluating the current science
teaching standards or endorsed the modifications Tenenbaum said are needed
to help teachers focus on the best lessons to present to students.

Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, said he supported Fair's efforts because
"there are other ideas that can be addressed as to how this world came
about."

Kitty Farnell, a science supervisor in Lexington-Richland 5, said she came
away from observing Monday's meeting disheartened and confused. She was
particularly critical of how eight members of an appointed committee could
undermine months of work that had the broad support of educators.

"That's a terrible example for our students," Farnell said. "It's an
embarrassment."

Reach Robinson at (803) 771-8482 or brobinson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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