Printable Version

Evolution Debate in Tennessee (4/28/03)

   

On April 5, 2003, the board of education in Blount County rejected the adoption of three biology textbooks because they discuss evolution without mention of creationism. According to National Center for Science Education, the vote was 6-1. This is contrary to a report by the Maryville (TN) The Daily Times that the vote was 2-1 with four abstensions due to board members' reluctance to engage in the controversial issue. The rejected biology books were previously approved by the state and chosen by biology teachers. Board member Mike Treadway voted against the textbooks because he believes evolution should be taught as a theory along side creationism. It is now expected that high school science teachers will be asked to develop a new curriculum that includes creationism taught besides evolution, which would spur approval of the texts. (4/28/03)

No Previous Action(s) listed at this time.

Sources: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Geophysical Union, Associated Press, Association for Women Geoscientists, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Duluth News Tribune, Kansas Geological Survey, Library of Congress, Maryville Tennessee Daily Times, National Academies, National Center for Science Education, National Science Teachers Association, Pioneer Press, Rocky Mountain News, Santa Fe New Mexican, WCCO-TV, The Dallas Morning News, The Austin American-Statesman, The Houston Chronicle.

Background section includes material from AGI's Update on State Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution for the 106th Congress.

Contributed by David Applegate and Emily Lehr, AGI Government Affairs Program, 2003 AGI/AAPG Spring Semester Intern Charna Meth, and 2003 AGI/AIPG Summer Intern Emily Scott.

Please send any comments or requests for information to AGI Government Affairs Program.

Last updated on September 13, 2003

© 2010 All rights reserved. American Geological Institute, 4220 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302-1502.
Please send any comments or problems with this site to: webmaster@agiweb.org.
Privacy Policy