Suburban School District Candidates Believe Creationism Should Be Taught

Despite ample legal precedent to the contrary, a number of school board candidates in the Chicago suburbs -- including the sitting president of one district -- announced in editorial board interviews that they supported teaching creationism in schools.

In mid-February, the suburban Daily Herald reported that two of the four candidates for the Fremont School District 79 board, about 45 miles north Chicago, would give creationism a place in the curriculum. One of those, Board President Sandra Bickley, told that paper that "from a scientific standpoint it can be given as a viewpoint" and that creationism is "another theory to consider."

Last Thursday, another round of interviews with candidates by the newspaper in the nearby suburb of Lake Zurich revealed that all four candidates for the three seats in that district also support teaching creationism.

Of evolution, Lake Zurich Unit District 95 School Board incumbent Tony Pietro told the DH: "I think we can say this is a theory," he said Thursday. "None of us were here when man was created."

Creationism is the theory that God created the universe and all living things, as follows from the Bible's Book of Genesis. As Chicagoist aptly pointed out, the Edwards v. Aguillard Supreme Court decision of 1987 quite clearly bars creationism from science classrooms on the grounds that it unduly preferences one set of religious beliefs. "Because the primary purpose of the Creationism Act is to advance a particular religious belief, the Act endorses religion in violation of the First Amendment," the Court wrote in that decision.

A similar ruling in 2005, Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, struck down the then-popular creationism variant known as "intelligent design" on the same grounds.

Still, when asked about adding creationism to the curriculum, Lake Zurich School Board candidate Doug Goldberg said to the Daily Herald interviewers, "I'm a good, God-fearing American and the answer is 'Yes.'"

And newcomer Chris Wallace went further still, saying, "Creationism to me is factual. Darwinism is a theory."

Voters in the Lake Zurich district will head to the polls on April 5 to determine which three of the four men will serve on their school board. One thing is for certain: all three of them will have some ambitious, if legally dubious, recommendations for District 95's science program.

Comments

[bobbeecher]

01:12 PM on 04/06/2011

"Chris Wallace went further still, saying, 'Creationism to me is factual. Darwinism is a theory.'"

THIS, coming from a man who also believes in talking snakes!

[Katmandu01]

12:11 PM on 03/27/2011

According to a March 2004 Gallup poll, belief in angels and demons is on the rise, at least in the United States. In 1994, 72% of Americans said they believed in angels; in 2004, 78% indicated belief in angels. Belief in the devil has risen even more dramatically, increasing from 55% in 1990 to 70% in 2004.
With such a widespread belief in the fantastic, the magical, the bizarre, the supernatural and the impossible is it any wonder why American students place 23rd in the their understanding of science according the results of testing conducted by the Program for International Student Assessment in 2009? It certainly helps explain why anyone who seriously seeks to hold political office would even admit to such idiocy as advocating that public schools actually teach biblical literalism in a public school system. Perhaps these candidates think that Buffy the Vampire slayer was a documentary.

[VBH1622]

10:02 PM on 03/23/2011

This is really painful!

Ignorance cherished and running rampant throughout our country. It's hostility not just to science, but to education and critical thinking.

We are racing backwards aa fast as we can with no good end in sight.

[ccshoppe]

05:54 PM on 03/23/2011

When churches start adding evolution to their books and teaching, that is when creationism should be allowed in the schools!! I am a huge believer and supporter of keeping religion and public schooling separate. IF people want their children to be taught about religion or the beliefs - that should be done in the home and at their respected places of worship, or find a way to support your child going to a private school.

We are a huge country with many diverse beliefs from apathy (not a religion but many seem to follow it) to atheist, Judaism, spiritualism, Muslim, Buddhism, Christianity, Native Indians have their own gods and more. I understand those wanting their children to believe in creationism...it is the parents job as it has always been to teach their children this. I am open to everyone being able to believe what they choose but spiritual beliefs should not be a school criteria.

Can public schools afford parents fighting over what spiritual beliefs should be included in the curriculum? The schools are having to give up so many worthy programs and events due to the economy. What happens when parents decide to sue over their children being taught religious beliefs in public schools? Keep the teaching in the home where it is practised and strongly believed in, that is always the strongest way to keep the faith – whatever it is ;-)

[been2there]

12:19 PM on 03/23/2011

Since science does not use holy books, I simply ask people what evidence I can cite that does not refer to the Bible. There isn't any.

[sean0008]

11:58 AM on 03/07/2011

"Creationism is the theory that God created the universe and all living things, as follows from the Bible's Book of Genesis"

It is NOT at theory! A theory is based on some degree of observable evidence and should conform to what we already know to be fact. Creationism is not even an hypothesis. It is simply a story told a long, long time ago. Many may have faith in it as the true word of God, but that does not give it one ounce of credibility in a science class.

[Cole 33]

01:14 PM on 03/04/2011

I think we need to set parameters for being allowed on school boards. People like this shouldn't be allowed to have a say in what is taught in school.

[Cole 33]

12:49 PM on 03/04/2011

Sandra Bickley, told that paper that "from a scientific standpoint it can be given as a viewpoint" and that creationism is "another theory to consider."

Not from any ACTUAL Scientific standpoint, since scientific discovery is NOT a "viewpoint".

Creationism is NOT a Scientific Theory, it's a religious belief with ZERO supporting testable evidence.

This article in itself is incorrect and should be changed. "Creationism is the theory that God created the universe and all living things, as follows from the Bible's Book of Genesis"

NO, Creationism is NOT a THEORY, it's a Religious Belief. Creationism is the BELIEF that the universe and all life on earht spontaneously poofed into existence no more than 10k years ago, all animals poofing into existence completely separately, fully intact as we see them today, without any evidence to support it, or any evidence to test this belief.

Please look up what a Scientific Theory is.

Chris Wallace went further still, saying, "Creationism to me is factual. Darwinism is a theory."

And thats why you're an Id>>iot and shouldn't be allowed 100 feet from any kind of decision on what should be taught in school, leave that to people with a proper education.

[LMPE]

08:30 PM on 03/03/2011

Why not also teach that the sun revolves around the earth?

[Mike Smyers]

06:55 PM on 03/08/2011

Sadly I read that 2/3 of people believe the sun revolves around the earth. I could not believe it so decided to run my own tests...

Worse, I got the same results as stated... At first I wanted to burst out laughing, but became more distressed as more and more had no clue about reality.

We tried the creationism here in KS... Problem was that they could not get a creation 'science' book because nobody would allow their copyrighted (and valid) material to be included in such a tragic book.

[happycat]

08:28 PM on 03/03/2011

This is tragic. We are going to raise a whole generation of dumb kids.

[QuakerJewish]

10:33 AM on 03/04/2011

And we've seen how that's working out for Texas.

[SocBeat]

04:49 PM on 03/03/2011

"Of evolution, Lake Zurich Unit District 95 School Board incumbent Tony Pietro told the DH: "I think we can say this is a theory," he said Thursday. "None of us were here when man was created." "

Comments like that just make me crazy. Not only does this guy not understand the science, he doesn't even follow the evolution-creation debate. There is no excuse whatsoever for the use of the word "theory" with the context he places on it. That alone should disqualify him from spouting off on the topic.

[Cole 33]

12:50 PM on 03/04/2011

It's because they have ZERO clue what a Theory is. Thats the level of intellect these people are operating with.

[SocBeat]

05:09 PM on 03/04/2011

That's what I meant when I said he doesn't follow the debate. If he did, he'd know that.

[milanst]

03:29 PM on 03/03/2011

The stupidity...
it hurts!

[antaeus]

01:17 PM on 03/03/2011

And when biology teachers don't have union-protected tenure, you can be assured that they will be dismissed arbitrarily by more than one crackpot school board in this backward country.

[Hillbilly49]

05:53 AM on 03/03/2011

This nonsense reminds me I have to renew my membership in the Flat Earth Society next week.

[Hillbilly49]

05:51 AM on 03/03/2011

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful. "





— Seneca