PHILADELPHIA - Controversial new standards for teaching science in Pennsylvania propose that evolution be treated as a "theory," and that alternative theories also be taught as part of schools' science curriculum.
The draft language, which is expected to go before the state legislature for approval early next year, is raising alarms among some scientists and education groups who worry that the new standards would give legitimacy to teaching creationist views.
Pennsylvania, one of the last states still working to create "standards" for teaching science, had gotten good reviews from scientists and educators alike for an earlier draft. But last July, the state Board of Education inserted several changes.
The additions that have raised concern include statements that teachers "analyze the impact of new scientific facts on the theory of evolution," and present theories that "do or do not support the theory of evolution."
`It's a code'
"It's code," said Molleen Matsumura, with the National Center for Science Education, a nonprofit group in Berkeley, Calif., which defends the teaching of evolution.
Of the vague references to other theories, she said, "There are people waiting in the wings to help teachers with that," she said - people promoting books on creation science and its close relative "intelligent design."
Teachers who want to teach creationism may also feel they have a green light, she said.
State Rep. Samuel Rhorer said he had opposed the previous draft of the standards because they promoted "just one theory of origins" to the exclusion of creation.
"I'm not a scientist," he said, "but I've done enough reading to know that the whole concept of natural selection and evolution is not science. It's not repeatable. It's a theory. You can talk about chemistry, physics, those things are all a matter of fact. Evolution is a religious tenet - it's a tenet of secular humanism, and of Marxism and communism," he said.
Education officials deny that July's changes were inserted to placate creationists. "For the first time we've mandated the teaching of evolution in Pennsylvania classrooms," said State Secretary of Education Eugene Hickok.
"The language in the latest draft of the academic standards does not promote the teaching of creationism," said James Gallagher, chairperson of the state Board of Education. "The standards do however give clear guidance to teachers to initiate intellectually stimulating dialogue about the scientific theory of evolution."
