Evolution Debate in Wisconsin (12-23-04)

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Recent Action

On December 16, the Grantsburg school board received a letter signed by almost 200 members of the Wisconsin clergy urging the board "to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge." In all, about 3000 science professors, religion professors, science educators, and members of the clergy from across the state have signed letters of protest to the board about its antievolution policies, thanks in large part to the efforts of NCSE member Michael Zimmerman, the dean of the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Grantsburg Superintendent Joni Burgin is reportedly unimpressed, however, writing in an e-mail to the St. Paul Pioneer Press that "The amount of letters and the number of signatures does not matter. The school board feels that they must do what is right for Grantsburg students and the Grantsburg community." Concerned residents of Grantsburg are planning to hold a public forum on January 8, 2005, on evolution, creationism, and public education -- and on what is really right for science education in Grantsburg. (12/23/04)

Previous Action

On December 6, 2004, the Grantsburg, Wisconsin, school board passed a third version of a resolution on its science curriculum by a vote of 6 to 1. Two previous versions of the policy were widely criticized as obvious attempts to require or allow the teaching of various forms of creationism, including "intelligent design," in the district's science classes. The policy states:

"Students are expected to analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information. Students shall be able to explain the scientific strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theory. This policy does not call for the teaching of creationism or intelligent design."

Despite the welcome clarification in the last sentence, the singling out of evolution for special attention is still problematic. NCSE's Susan Spath told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "We'll have to wait and see what materials are produced" to implement the new policy. Signs are not good, though: at a meeting in late November, the school board allowed a proponent of "intelligent design" creationism to make a lengthy presentation and to screen a videotape, while denying requests to allow a biologist to speak at a later meeting. (12/23/04)

The higher education community of Wisconsin has sent a series of letters in opposition to the Grantsburg School Board decision. The effort to "teach all theories of origin" in Grantsburg, a small rural town of 4000 people, has galvanized geoscientists, biologists, anthropologists, the deans of liberal arts and sciences departments and professional educators from all over the state. In a letter from the state geoscientists to Mr. David Alquist, the President of the Grantsburg School Board, it states, "It is essential that students today be taught to have a grasp of science - and that grasp means that they must be able to understand the very nature of science rather than merely memorize facts. Evolutionary theory is the single most important framework for tying all of biology together into a coherent whole and underpinning everything we know about the history of the earth." Each letter strongly encourages the Grantsburg School District to reverse their decision and maintain the integrity of science in public instruction. (11/4/04)

In October 2004, the Grantsburg School Board in Wisconsin adopted a new science policy that requires teachers to include "Intelligent Design" in their curriculum. Intelligent Design will be taught under the guise of improving students' critical thinking skills through balanced instruction. According to Dave Ahlquist, Chairman of the Gransburg School Board, the policy is "opening the door that was closed before and was too narrow."

The Deans of the University of Wisconsin expressed their stern disagreement with the policy in a letter sent to the school board which lambastes the teaching of religious non-scientific principles in science classes. Wisconsin residents who wish to become involved in this issue should contact the National Center for Science Education via their website at www.ncseweb.org. (10/26/04)

Sources: American Institute of Biological Sciences, Burnett County Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Contributed by David Millar, AAPG/AGI 2004 Fall Semester Intern and Emily Lehr Wallace, AGI Government Affairs Program.

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

Last updated on November 4, 2004.