Sticker-Mania: Approach Evolution with an Open Mind

"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

- text of disclaimers placed in Cobb County biology books

Parents in Cobb County, Georgia have settled in a case against the teaching of evolution, saying they would bring no further legal action and that the district would do nothing to undermine the teaching of evolution. The settlement follows a long and frankly embarrassing battle in which parents battled the school board over teaching evolution. In 2002, the school board had ordered that stickers be put in all biology textbooks saying that evolution was "a theory, not a fact." Parents filed suit against the stickers, saying they violated the separation of church and state. Even state officials got into the act, with State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox proposing that the word "evolution" be banned from the curriculum in 2004. Textbooks would instead use "biological changes over time." Cox felt that evolution was too much of a buzzword.

I wonder about the state of our education system sometimes, especially in states like Georgia, where the religious right has a powerful influence. We can give the parents credit for standing up to their beliefs, but if we look more closely at the infamous stickers, we see that the parents have got the right idea, about one thing, at least. By arguing for critical thinking, the Cobb County parents are really arguing for the best kind of education. Wouldn't it be great if they could apply that thinking to other areas?

Evolution is a Theory, not a Fact