KU in the Capitol

State Board of Education decision won’t affect KU curriculum

This week’s long-expected decision by the Kansas Board of Education to insert language questioning evolution in the state’s science standards will not affect science curriculum at KU.

However, whether this vote affects the university’s ability to hire top faculty remains to be seen. The issue will likely remain a topic of national debate next year when five seats of the 10-member board are up for election.

Chancellor Hemenway’s public statement on the issue last month received national attention as did the university’s current display on evolution now open at the Natural History Museum. Several KU faculty have been active in the issue, either speaking out publicly as museum director Leonard Krishtalka did on National Public Radio last week, or in writing alternative science standards like Steve Case, a ssistant research professor at KU’s Center for Research on Learning in the School of Education.

• Statement by chancellor on evolution
http://www.chancellor.ku.edu/messages/2005/september2605.shtml?M