October 5, 1999
LAWRENCE -- The Kansas Academy of Science, among the oldest professional scientific societies in the nation, has issued a statement saying it was "profoundly disappointed" with the Kansas State Board of Education decision to de-emphasize evolution in the state's science education standards.
In a letter to members of the board of education, the academy asked the board to reconsider its decision. The academy, established in 1868, is composed of more than 300 scientists and science educators from around the state. The academy's current president is Curtis Sorenson, professor of geography at the University of Kansas.
"The board's action has clearly had a chilling effect on teachers and textbook publishers," said the statement. "It will harm the teaching of other subjects, such as geology and physics. It may harm the recruiting of new natural-science teachers. The ultimate losers will be the students of Kansas."
The statement noted that several members of the writing team that produced the proposed science standards were members of the academy.
"The standards writing committee made sound recommendations to the state board of education," said Sorenson. "The board should recognize its responsibility, reverse its stand, and promulgate those standards."
The full text of the academy's statement is available at http://www.wuacc.edu/kas/.
Story by Rex Buchanan