But governor has no plans to seek statewide requirement, aide says
10:01 PM CST on Friday, January 6, 2006
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry
favors the teaching of "intelligent design" along with evolution in
public school science classes but has no plans to push for curriculum
changes that would require Texas students to learn the controversial
theory, his office said Friday. Kathy Walt, the
governor's press secretary, said Mr. Perry supports the teaching of
intelligent design "much as the theory of evolution is now taught" in
Texas schools. Current state curriculum requirements include evolution.
The governor's position came to light because of a letter
sent by his office last month to an East Texas constituent who asked
Mr. Perry whether he backed teaching of intelligent design in schools.
Intelligent design holds that the complex features of the universe and
living things are best explained by an unknown "intelligent cause"
rather than by undirected processes like natural selection and random
mutation – the key components of Charles Darwin's theory of how life on
Earth evolved. Critics contend that intelligent design is
creationism in disguise and has nothing do with modern scientific
theory. But proponents like the Discovery Institute, a conservative
think tank based in Seattle, insist their theory is not based on
religion. Last month, a federal judge prohibited a
Pennsylvania school district from requiring that intelligent design be
taught in biology classes, ruling that it violated the constitutional
separation of church and state. The letter from Mr. Perry's office noted that the Pennsylvania decision probably will be appealed.
"Once the courts have spoken with finality and clarity, Texas schools
will abide by that decision," the letter said. Ms. Walt
said that the governor's office was merely responding to a
constituent's letter and that Mr. Perry has no plans to seek
legislation that would require the teaching of intelligent design in
science classes. "We try to respond to all letters that
ask the governor's position on issues," she said. "He has always
supported providing students with alternative theories as part of the
effort to teach critical and analytical thinking skills." But, she added, "the governor is not pushing legislation to require that intelligent design be taught."
A group that has clashed with social conservatives over evolution and
other hot button education issues said the governor's comments should
raise concerns among educators and parents. "For the
governor to suggest that intelligent design should be taught in science
classes is troubling," said Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network.
"We shouldn't be teaching religion and faith in science classes. That
is something that should be left to parents and clergy."
The State Board of Education dealt with the issue in 2003 when it
adopted new high school biology books covering evolution, rejecting the
pleas of social conservatives and others who said most of the books
were too one-sided in their treatment of evolution. The books were sent
to schools in the fall of 2004. "I don't consider it an
issue in Texas at this point," said board Chairwoman Geraldine Miller,
R-Dallas. "We had lots of testimony and discussed the issue thoroughly
in 2003." She added that Mr. Perry's office did not contact her during
that debate. Ms. Miller said the textbook decision was
based on the state curriculum standards adopted by the board after
careful consideration in 1997. The standards required the teaching of
evolution in science classes. "If a school district
believes there are other substantive theories out there, it has the
opportunity to present them. But that is a local policy decision, if a
district wants to discuss other theories besides evolution," she said.
Ms. Miller said evolution won't be debated by the board again until
2008, when new science books come up for adoption. She said she could
not recall any legislation in recent years seeking to place the concept
of intelligent design into the state curriculum. E-mail tstutz@dallasnews.com