If you believe any of your theories, you've turned science into a religion.


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New twist to old debate
Intelligent design movement prompts public school science teachers to carefully consider approach
BY ELLEN YAN

November 27, 2005

Even before officials in Kansas and parts of Pennsylvania declared that intelligent design could be taught in public school science classes, retired Syosset teacher Jack Friedman was coaching middle school science teachers on how to address the issue with their students.

"Why not be fair and teach all sides?" a few teachers asked. Others argued that intelligent design, which says the Earth is so complex that a higher power must have created it, is more than religion. The designer doesn't have to be God, they insisted - it might be an alien.

"They didn't want to step on anybody's religion and have their parents come in and get them in trouble," said Friedman, head of the New York State Council on Evolution Education, which monitors separation of church and state in schools.

Most people don't think New York State is on the verge of facing a major movement to reclaim creationism as science. In fact, Friedman's organization hasn't been terribly busy in recent years.

But now and then, local public school teachers said, they've responded to questions on the issue from students and parents.

The queries can be daunting: "How can you believe in God and be a scientist?" or "Didn't God create that?"

The state requires its public school science teachers to explain the "mechanisms and patterns" of evolution, covering topics such as gene mutations, survival of the fittest and how current species developed from "earlier, distinctly different species."

The issue of evolution vs. intelligent design has been in the national spotlight since the Kansas Board of Education redefined biology standards to allow discussions in the classroom of alternatives to evolution. This month, voters in Dover, Pa., threw out eight school board members who required teachers to include a statement on intelligent design in class.

In May, New York State Assemb. Daniel Hooker introduced a bill, which died, that would have required intelligent design to be taught in public schools; Hooker said he wanted to stimulate debate.

Critics say the intelligent design theory is no more than a new spin on creationism, a literal reading of the biblical story on the world's origins.

Some teachers said they've calmed fears and persuaded parents not to yank their kids out of class during evolution lessons by never attacking religious beliefs. Some convince doubters by saying it's smart to know the "enemy" theories - as one retired city teacher says - and others encourage those who are interested to read about intelligent design on their own time.

"What I point out to them is that we're not trying to convert them in any way, but they should be able to understand the tenets of organic evolution," said Brian Vorwald, chairman of the grades 6-12 science department for the Sayville school district.

In class, he notes that there are other evolution theories, including discredited ones such as the flat Earth school of thinking, and the kids laugh when he tells them, "There's absolutely something you're being taught this year in science that will be disproven."

Over the years, science teacher John Cunningham has fashioned a weapon of sorts for students who fear he will force them to accept evolution, counter to the wishes of their parents or religious leaders.

"What you're supposed to do is to attack theories all the time," the Brooklyn teacher said he tells them. "If you believe any of your theories, you've turned science into a religion.

"You can see the look of relief on their faces and from then on, no matter what belief system they're from, they're willing to ask questions and posit ideas."

Several local science teachers said they don't object to intelligent design or creationism in public schools - in social studies or philosophy classes.

For Cunningham, who teaches biology at Brooklyn Tech High School, defining the difference between science and religion is crucial to keeping peace with the parents and motivating students to work on required evolution projects.

"One of the worst things to do to a curious intellect is to say their belief is wrong," he said.

"It's pretty helter-skelter right now in terms of trying to pick up the difference between science and religion and explaining it adequately in the classroom. In religion, you believe in things, and in science, you criticize and explore."

Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.
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