In August of 1999, the Kansas Board of Education made a decision that would touch off a firestorm of debate in academic circles around the country. The Board voted to significantly downplay teachings of evolution in the state curriculum. Virtually gone from the state science standards were discussions of the big-bang theory, the age of the earth, and other scientific theories that are at odds with creationist theories.

Now, less than two years after this controversial decision, the Kansas Board of Education seems to have had an about face. Later this month, they will meet again to vote on a revised draft of the state science standards – a draft that would include evolution in the curriculum.

So where do you stand on this issue? Do you believe in creationism? Evolution? Both? Neither? Which, if either of these theories do you think should be taught in our public schools?

Here are some more aspects to consider on one of the most basic debates known to man:

• The Creationism vs. Evolution in the classroom debate is not a new one in America. In 1925, Tennessee science teacher John Scopes was found guilty of violating the state’s Butler law, which prohibited teaching theories of evolution in the classroom. How much do you think attitudes have changed since the Scopes trial?



• If you believe evolution should be taught in our public schools, which theories of evolution do you think should be taught?



• If you believe creationism should be taught in our public schools – which theories do you think should be taught? Should any particular religious beliefs be followed? If so, which ones?



• Can theories of evolution and creationism be taught in the same classroom? Are they mutually exclusive? If so, should they be taught alongside each other as competing theories, or should they be taught independently, with evolution taught as scientific theory and creationism taught as a religious belief?



• Finally, what’s your personal explanation for how the universe began and all forms of life came into being? Do you believe in creationism – that a higher power created the universe? Do you believe in something closer to Darwin’s theory of evolution – that the universe and man evolved over time from earlier, more primitive species? Or, do you believe in a combination of the two theories – that a higher power put in place all the necessary components for evolution to occur? Are there any less popular theories that you believe should be considered?