A similar bill was introduced in Ohio in 2000. HB 679 required that "evidence against evolution" be taught whenever evolution is taught. However it was not acted upon by the committee during 2000 and was not considered before the legislature adjourned. Concerned NCSE members reported that several legislators expressed their approval of the bill The bill's chief sponsor, Ron Hood, lost his bid for re-election in November 2000.
The proposed standards are on the web at
The changes SEAO proposes to the new standards include removal of a reference to the age of the earth, the introduction of intelligent design as a scientifically valid alternative to evolution, and references to William Paley (Natural Theology, 1802) and Michael Behe (Darwin's Black Box, 1996) to be added where discussion of Darwin, Mendel and Lamarck take place.
Ohio NCSE members are encouraged to contact the office for more details.
The National Center for Science Education is a nonprofit organization, based in Oakland, California, dedicated to defending the teaching of evolution in the public schools. On the web at www.ncseweb.org.
Skip Evans, NCSE Network Project Administrator.