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Cobb County adopts new evolution policy
The Cobb county school board voted last night to allow the teaching of alternate origins of species theories. Many of this morning's headlines on the vote announce that creationism is now allowed in the district's classrooms. The Associated Press says, "Ga. school district OKs creationism." CNN: "Ga. school board OKs teaching creationism."

This is exactly the interpretation of the board's actions that board chairman Curt Johnston apparently worried about when writing the board's only statement after making its decision. He said:

We seem to have been caught in the middle of a dispute between various parties who apparently want to use our curriculum to promote their own views. We expect teachers to continue to teach the theory of evolution. We do not expect teachers to teach creationism … Religion has no place in science instruction. The purpose of this policy is to foster critical thinking among students to allow academic freedom consistent with legal requirements to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity of opinion and to ensure a posture of neutrality toward religion.

The new policy admits that evolution and other theories of origins are regularly debated and challenged in the science community. Thus, it allows teachers to show this debate in order "to foster critical thinking among students, to allow academic freedom consistent with legal requirements, to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity of opinion, and to ensure a posture of neutrality toward religion."

In a broad-based curriculum, the policy reads, the "discussion of disputed views of academic subjects is a necessary element of providing a balanced education, including the study of the origin of species."

The much-anticipated board vote comes after a parent sued the district for distributing science books with disclaimers. Stickers inside the books warned that evolution should be critically evaluated because it is a theory and not a fact.

When the school board looked at its old policy on evolution instruction, discussion turned to amending it to include other theories. At the time, Johnson said the board wanted to provide open discussion in the classroom. His hope was that the policy would clarify for teachers what they could discuss.

The parent suing the district reacted to the new policy by saying, "I'll see you in court."

Other evolution stories:

• Adam Vs. evolution | Creation scientist argues Earth about 6,000 years old (Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.)
  
  
• Darwinism debate fails to evolve | If Columbia College wished to provoke emotion over creationism and evolution in school curriculums, its public "Dinner With Darwin" couldn't have satisfied many appetites. (The Chicago Tribune)

House passes abortion bill protecting hospitals
The House of Representatives has approved a bill that would allow hospitals and insurance companies to deny to perform or pay for abortions without the threat of losing federal funds. The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (H.R.4691) passed on Wednesday in a 229-189 vote mainly down party lines.

"This bill provides important protections for the conscience rights of healthcare professionals and providers," said Dr. David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical Association in a press release. "No one should be forced to violate their conscience by being coerced to take part in abortion."

The bill amends 1996 legislation (42 U.S.C. '238n), which gave health care entities protection against anti-discrimination suits if they declined to train in or perform abortions. The weakness of this legislation was vague language. In application, it has often only covered residency programs and training—and not healthcare professionals or hospitals themselves.

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September (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46