Bluffton, Indiana
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By JUSTIN PEEPER
Intelligent design will continue to be a part of Bluffton-Harrison’s science curriculum even though the often-controversial subject is not included in the state’s science standards that teachers must follow.
When the vote came Monday night to adopt science textbooks B-H schools will use for the next six years, the school board voted 4-1 to continue requiring the district’s science educators to discuss “appropriate theories” — such as intelligent design and evolution — and give a “fair and balanced” presentation when teaching about the origin of the universe and life.
Intelligent design asserts that one or more intelligent agents designed life on earth. It questions Darwinian evolution.
When the board adopted the last science textbooks six years ago, members instructed teachers to include in their discussions concepts other than the theory of evolution and to specifically include intelligent design.
Monday night’s motion for the new books was similar.
“Therefore, in making this motion to approve the adoption of the science textbooks as presented, I do so under the condition that when the subject of the origin of the universe and life is discussed, our teachers will include concepts other than the theory of evolution and that they will specifically include the theory of intelligent design in this discussion,” school board vice president Gene Gerber read from a prepared statement.
“The intent of this board directive is not to replace the teaching of the theory of evolution with the theory of intelligent design or any other theory. On the contrary, the intent is to discuss the scientific evidence — not religious evidence — for and against appropriate theories at all grade levels where this topic is discussed,” Gerber read from his one-page statement.
Gerber, Kent Shady, Steve Huffman and Daryl Elliott voted in favor of the motion while member Andrew Carnall voted against it.
The vote came after nearly 40 minutes of discussion among board members, the public, the high school principal and a high school chemistry teacher.
Seconds after Gerber made his motion to adopt the textbooks with the added requirements, however, Carnall suggested an amended motion to adopt the science books as presented with no requirements attached.
“My purpose for doing that is that I think if we passed a motion with that extra language we are dictating to our science department to teach something that is not included in the state standards,” Carnall said.
Carnall was referring to educational standards the Indiana Department of Education has established. He said he accepted the state’s science standards and that the schools should teach to those standards.
He said the board has not required other departments or programs to teach outside of the standards and he believed doing so was a bad precedent to set.
Shady, however, asked if the board had already set a precedent since it passed a similar motion six years ago when the last science textbooks were approved.
Huffman also pointed out that the board had deemed certain stories in high school English books not appropriate for the community’s standards.
Elliot believed including intelligent design and other theories in classroom discussions was not a bad idea.
“All I’m asking here is to broaden the discussion that takes place in our science classrooms,” Gerber said. “I’m not asking that we open Genesis and read from Genesis. Let’s look at scientific data that is out there that suggests there are other theories.”
Gerber said he believed intelligent design is a scientific theory.
High school principal Steve Baker told the board that for the last six years he had never received a phone call from a parent who thought too much or too little evolution or intelligent design was being taught at the high school.
He said the board’s policy from six years ago was being followed and that the high school’s biology teacher presented six theories of how the origin of life began.
“I believe we have met the policy and then some,” he said.
Parent Jody Holloway, one of about 28 people who attended Monday night’s meeting, said he saw no problem going above and beyond the state’s standards and that he wanted to see a continuation of the current policy.
High school chemistry teacher Susan Ballinger asked the board to clarify several components of the motion.
Gerber’s original proposal called for science teachers to discuss the scientific evidence for and against all appropriate theories, and Ballinger wanted more explanation on what “all” and “appropriate” meant.
She explained to the board that after spending just 25 minutes on the Internet Monday she came across 36 different theories about the origin of the universe and life.
One of the theories she came across, panspermia, suggests that extraterritorials started life on earth and she wanted to know if she would be required to teach about that concept because of the “all appropriate” wording.
“I have several questions,” she said. “If this motion goes through, we need some concrete answers if you expect us to be fair and balanced.”
Ballinger also said she would need more education about intelligent design. Ballinger, who has a master’s degree in biology, said intelligent design had never been discussed in any of the science classes she has taken.
Ballinger also thought the school board should provide science teachers with appropriate curriculum if educators were expected to go outside of the state curriculum.
After more discussion, “all” was removed from the motion and Gerber agreed to provide more curriculum to science teachers.
Carnall’s motion to approve the textbooks without the added school board mandate was defeated 4-1.
A second vote to approve the books with the added stipulation passed 4-1. Agreed was that the teachers and building principal would decide what was “appropriate” and “fair and balanced.”
Jon Bennett, administrative assistant to the superintendent, pointed out at the end of the discussion that the time spent in class discussing the origins of life is minimal.
In other business, the board:
—Heard from building principals about end-of-the-year activities at each of the three schools. Bluffton High School’s graduation will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27 at the high school.
—Approved the high school’s updated school improvement plan. The school must update its plan every five years to renew its accreditation with North Central Association (NCA) and to comply with Public Law 221, the No Child Left Behind Act. The board received a copy of the high school’s plan in April and had reviewed it. The high school’s main goal is to work on reading comprehension across the curriculum, Baker said.
—Agreed to place the following student teachers in classes for the fall 2005 semester: Katrina Wenger from IPFW in John Price’s biology class; Crystal Wasmund from Indiana Wesleyan in Deb Johnson’s English class; and Laura Almdale from Taylor University in Jackie Chaney’s English class.
—Hired Ken Ballinger and John Price as classroom instructors in the driver’s education program, and Ballinger, Norm Fogwell, Stan Gilbert, Ted Taylor and John Main as driving instructors.
—Approved numerous fall coaching recommendations and one winter coaching recommendation.
—Approved several summer camps.
—Approved inter-fund borrowing for the 2005 budget year because of cash flow problems.
—Accepted a donation of four light fixtures from Bruce Monce for additional lighting for the marching band field. Franklin Electric also donated two telephone poles to the band.
—Approved a resolution for a tax warrant because of the delay in receiving this spring’s tax distributions.
During the president’s prerogative, Shady congratulated students who had received any type of special award and those students who will receive awards at the Spring Athletic award and Class Day programs. Shady also congratulated the golf team for coming in fourth in the ACAC golf tourney.
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