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Georgia Schools Should Teach More About Evolution Not Less

JANUARY 29, 2004 – New science standards proposed by the Georgia Department of Education eliminate all references to “evolution” and instead use the term “biological changes over time,” in order to avoid public protest over the lack of thoroughness in how evolution is presented.

“This is just absurd. Georgia needs to teach more about evolution, not less,” said Rob Crowther, spokesman for Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture. “They need to be presenting the scientific evidence both for and against Darwin’s theory. There is a growing controversy among scientists about the ability of natural selection or chemistry alone to explain the complexity of life. Ignoring the word evolution won’t make the controversy go away.”

Last year 35 Georgia scientists appealed for academic freedom to teach the scientific controversy over Darwinian evolution. Nationally, more than 300 scientists have courageously stepped forward and signed onto a growing list of scientists of all disciplines voicing their skepticism over the central tenets of Darwin’s theory of evolution and urging “careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.”

“Defenders of Darwin’s theory are again insisting students be quarantined from learning any scientific problems with the theory, while at the same time evolutionary critics would like religious views to be presented in biology classes,” Crowther added. “Both are poor science, and it will be students who lose if either of these extreme views prevail. Fortunately for Georgia there is another approach: Teach evolution fully and completely including both its scientific strengths and weaknesses.”

If you’d like to speak with a spokesperson for Discovery Institute contact Rob Crowther at (206) 292-0401 x107 or by e-mail at rob@discovery.org.

About the Center for Science and Culture
Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture is the nation’s leading think tank and research center dealing with challenges to Darwinian evolution and science education standards. Visit the Center online: www.discovery.org/csc/.

About Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy, think tank which promotes ideas in the common sense tradition of representative government, the free market and individual liberty. Current projects include work in technology, science and culture, the economy, education choice, regional transportation, and the bi-national region of “Cascadia.” Visit Discovery online: www.discovery.org.

Discovery Institute

Discovery Institute promotes thoughtful analysis and effective action on local, regional, national and international issues. The Institute is home to an inter-disciplinary community of scholars and policy advocates dedicated to the reinvigoration of traditional Western principles and institutions and the worldview from which they issued.