News Release
For Immediate Release
February 9, 2000
For information, contact:
Jack Krebs (jkrebs@sunflower.com)
H - (785) 832-0739
W - (785) 863-2281
Liz Craig (Media Contact) (lizard6849@yahoo.com)
H - (913) 236-7595
W - (816) 283-3223 x 298
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Kansas Citizens For Science Gives BOE Dunce Cap For Refusing Science Standards Review
"The children of Kansas are being cheated. They deserve far better than this," said Kansas Citizens For Science member Steve Case, responding to the Kansas Board's decision not to submit the Kansas science standards to outside review.
Although troubling, the BOE's action on Tuesday was hardly surprising to Kansas Citizens For Science, an organization dedicated to advocacy of quality science education in Kansas schools.
In December, in response to an international firestorm of criticism, which culminated in even the conservative Fordham Foundation giving the Kansas science standards an "F" grade, the Board voted 9 to 1 to send the standards out for external review by an experienced, unbiased reviewing organization.
Tuesday, when the Board reversed its decision, Kansas Citizens For Science characterized the action as another move in a politically motivated game that's been going on since early last year, when the BOE began considering new science standards.
"Once again, the right-wing religious faction of the Kansas State Board of Education has shown its contempt for the ideals of science and an honest search for knowledge," Case said. "Those radical Board members continue to show they are determined to sacrifice the quality of our kids' education to further their own personal agendas."
Ever since last August, when the Board adopted new science standards, the reaction of the world press and scientific and educational has been overwhelmingly negative.
Said Matt Grogger, KCFS member, "Every major scientific and science education organization in Kansas and across the nation has been critical of the science standards and criticized the Board for their actions. They must have realized they would look even worse than they already do if they paid $18,000 to $20,000 of the taxpayers' money to confirm what everyone already knows: that the standards are bad."
During the public comment portion of the Tuesday Board of Education meeting, KCFS spokesperson Jack Krebs outlined four reasons why review of the standards is necessary:
o To correct inaccuracies and inconsistencies resulting from numerous revisions to the standards by multiple authors.
o To utilize the power of the peer review process, an essential part of the scientific process which contributes to solid knowledge by subjecting prospective material to examination and criticism before publication.
o To ensure that Kansas is indeed adopting "world-class standards" that will equip our children with the scientific knowledge and skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
o To solicit an objective, unbiased perspective free from the political and emotional influences that have obscured the true issue: quality education for our children.
Kansas Citizens For Science, a not-for-profit educational organization composed of parents, students, scientists and educators, has followed BOE activity closely since last spring. The group recently documented that a Missouri creationist group authored many parts of the standards the Board adopted in August. KCFS will continue to monitor the Board of Education and to provide public education andadvocacy to promote world-class science education for Kansas public school students, through its website, www.kcfs.org, and through publications and public presentations.