Coley speaks up on teaching evolution

By Archive

Published: February 12, 2008

State Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, is standing up for her constituents who want evolution taught as theory not fact.

She’s gotten e-mails and letters on the subject from across her district and has been contacted from outside her district by those who have started petitions.

Coley agrees that the changes in state science standards should be reconsidered.

The State Board of Education is to act on the standards on Feb. 19. For the first time they would use the word “evolution” instead of terms previously used, such as “biological changes over time.”

The standards would also call for a more in-depth study of evolution.

Coley explained her position last week after she had brought it up with the BOE in a conference call.

“It has suddenly become a hot topic,” Coley said. “I have been contacted by many constituents.”

“All I have requested is that (the board members) go back in and where they’ve used ‘evolution’ alone, they use the word ‘theory’ beside it.”

Coley agrees that evolution has taken place to some extent in nature but isn’t ready to call it unmitigated fact.

“There are many parts of the study of evolution that have been crucial in the progress of agriculture, the health arena in combating diseases ... and we certainly want our students to be equipped with the same information as other students,” Coley said.

“But also there are portions of the theory of evolution that can’t be proven, and because there is uncertainty and areas that are debatable, I think it would be very appropriate to continuing using the word theory as we currently do,” the legislator said.

She said the petitions have come from Madison and Taylor counties and many Panhandle school superintendents have joined in support of adding the word theory.

The Jackson County School Board passed a resolution supporting the addition of theory if the word evolution is used.

Coley said she didn’t want a ruckus but wanted to be fair.

“I’m not trying to make this a huge fight,” but say that “at least there is still a part of this study that is debatable,” she said.

Much of the appeal is coming from a religious foundation, “and I personally subscribe to that same philosophy, but I’m not asking to present my personal belief,” just that it’s theory not fact, Coley said.

Several public hearings have been held around the state on the proposed changes for the science standards.