Education
Kansas Prepares for Hearings on Evolution and Education
TOPEKA, KS — The Kansas State Board of Education is revising the state’s science standards. This week a board sub-committee will hear testimony from two dozen scientists and scholars about how evolution should be presented in the classroom.
The Topeka Capital Journal last weekend published a very helpful Q&A on the hearings.
There has been a great deal of media coverage leading up to the hearings. The AP has a preview of what to expect when the hearings open tomorrow.
One thing not to expect is any sort of defense of Darwinian evolution. Kansas Darwinists are refusing to participate, but regardless the debate and discussion will go on.
The building where the hearings will be held holds a little under 200 people and officials here expect standing room only in the meeting room.
Here is the schedule for the opening day of testimony, tomorrow.
May 5
8:30 – 8:40: Introductions and Remarks: Dr. Steve Abrams, Chairman of the Science Committee:8:40 – 8:55 Opening Statement of Counsel for the Minority: John Calvert
Witness Testimony (presentation times are noted in parentheses, with the balance reserved for questions by Mr. Irigonegary and the Committee):8:55 – 10:40 William S. Harris, PhD (60)
Biochemist, Professor of Medicine, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Director of the Lipoprotein; Research Laboratory, St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, MO10:40 – 11:50 Intermission
11:50 – 12:00 Charles Thaxton, PhD (40)
Physical Chemist and co-author of The Mystery of Life’s Origin12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 to 2:30 Jonathan Wells, PhD (50)
Molecular and cell biologist, Author of Icons of Evolution and Senior Fellow Discovery Institute2:30 to 3:30 Giuseppe Sermonti, PhD (30)
Chief Editor of Rivista di Biologia/Biology Forum (Genoa), one of the oldest extant biology journals in the world; retired Professor of Genetics at the University of Perugia, author of the forthcoming “Why is a Fly Not a Horse?”3:30-3:40 Intermission
3:40 to 4:40 Ralph Seelke, PhD (30)
Professor of Biology, University of Wisconsin – Superior4:40 to 5:30 Bruce Simat, PhD (30)
Biochemistry and Human Physiology, Associate Professor North Western College, St. Paul, MN