Darwin returns to Kansas

Evolution is back in the Kansas school system, as moderates defeated antievolution candidates in the recent Republican primary for the Kansas Board of Education. The primary results ensure that, whatever the outcome of the general election in November, the conservative board majority that adopted science standards critical of evolution will be replaced with a majority that favors teaching scientific evolution.

The new board is expected to rescind a set of state science standards, written last year with the support of intelligent-design advocates, that are used in drafting tests to measure how well students are progressing in science. The standards do not mandate what is taught in classrooms.

The battle for the state school board has been under way since 1998, when conservatives won the majority and voted in antievolution standards. A voter backlash put moderates and liberals back on the board; in 2001 the new board replaced the antievolution standards with ones that were acceptable to the scientific community. Antievolution candidates retook the board in the last election and changed the standards to include concepts of intelligent design.

So although the latest pro-evolution swing in the board is being cheered by officials at the National Center for Science Education, a nonprofit advocacy group, and many educators in Kansas, few observers believe the fight is over. In November 2008, seats held by four moderate school board members will be up for election.