Although District 8 (Wichita) state board of education candidate Walt Chappell gave indications early on he was a REAL science candidate, we were hesitant to give him our backing because he hadn't responded to an email we'd sent asking him about these issues.
We're very happy to learn that Chappell has provided abundantly clear responses to substantive questions. At his website are his responses to questionnaires from interested organizations.
Some examples follow:
In response to the Mainstream Coalition:
2) Q: Are you opposed to the teaching of biblical creation or intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in public school science classes?
A: Yes
A: Yes
From the Kansas Families for Education:
8) Do you support biblical creationism, or intelligent design theory, as an alternative or in addition to the evolution theory in the science curricula
Answer: Absolutely NOT!!
Answer: Absolutely NOT!!
From the Wichita Eagle:
Q. Should the board revise its science standards to include criticism of evolution? If so, why, and in what way? If not, why not?
A. NO!! I have taught evolution in Kansas middle and high school science classes plus served on the College of Medicine faculty at the University of Iowa. Each major religion and culture has its own explanation of how the universe was created. No one knows how it began. But, the millions of years of scientific evidence of evolution on Earth are well documented and must be taught in our classrooms.
A. NO!! I have taught evolution in Kansas middle and high school science classes plus served on the College of Medicine faculty at the University of Iowa. Each major religion and culture has its own explanation of how the universe was created. No one knows how it began. But, the millions of years of scientific evidence of evolution on Earth are well documented and must be taught in our classrooms.
Jeremy & I are confident that Dr. Chappell's consistent, coherent, unequivocal responses indicate that he's a REAL science candidate, and our map has been changed accordingly.
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
