The Kansas Board of Education has approved science standards that support the theory of intelligent design and cast doubt on Darwin's theory of evolution. The final vote was 6-4 in favor of intelligent design.
The theory of intelligent design states that the universe is so complex, there must have been a higher power involved in its creation. The theory was originally drafted by proponents of creationism which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled could not be taught in public schools because it violated the doctrine of separation of church and state.
'This is a sad day. We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world, and I hate that,' said board member Janet Waugh, a Democrat.
Supporters of the new standards have cloaked their arguments in the guise of academic freedom. 'It gets rid of a lot of dogma that's being taught in the classroom today,' said board member John Bacon.
The board even redefined science, saying it is no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena.
'What this does is open the door for teachers to bring creationist arguments into the classroom and point to the standards and say it's OK,' said Jack Krebs, an Oskaloosa High School math teacher and vice president of Kansas Citizens for Science, a group which opposes the changes.
President Bush has spoken out in favor of the teaching of intelligent design in public schools.
A case is presently pending in a Pennsylvania court in which the parents of students in the Dover school district sued because the teaching of intelligent design was made a mandatory part of the curriculum. A decision is expected in the case shortly.
