ID Defeated in Michigan

An initiative to introduce the teaching of Intelligent Design in Michigan schools suffered a setback today. The state Congress was supposed to issue new curriculum guidelines recently. In September, the guidelines were delayed. Nobody knew for sure how it would turn out. There was concern that Republican legislators were trying to introduce ID content. As mentioned the The Detroit Free Press:

Critics of the delayed vote, including a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union, said some Republican lawmakers are trying to weaken state standards to allow some instruction about intelligent design in science classes.
Intelligent design's proponents hold that living organisms are so complex they must have been created by a higher force rather than evolving from more primitive forms. Some want science teachers to teach that Darwin's theory of evolution is not a fact and has gaps.

Shelli Weisberg, ACLU of Michigan legislative director, urged the state board to adopt the science curriculum as recommended Tuesday, rather than grant the delay.

The Republican candidate for governor, Dick "Pyramid" DeVos, made headlines when he openly advocated for the inclusion of ID content.

Now, Michigan lawmakers have gone ahead with the vote, and it turns out that the final standards leave no room for ID. Again, from the Free Press:

The State Board of Education on Tuesday approved public school curriculum guidelines that support the teaching of evolution in science classes — but not intelligent design.

Intelligent design instruction could be left for other classes in Michigan schools. But it shouldn’t have a home in science class, based on the unanimously adopted guidelines.

One wonders what was truly behind the delay. Did they need more time to assess the political implications? Did the people of Michigan make it clear that they would no support lawmakers who voted for lousy education? Were legislators afraid to galvanize voters, possibly increasing turnout of progressives and intellectuals? Whatever the case, it is a small victory. posted by : Joseph j7uy5 | link | | |
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