A proposed biology curriculum for the State of Georgia removes the word evolution, replacing it with biological change over time. The New York Times also reports that the curriculum fudges on the age of Earth, removing the word long from the phrase long history of the Earth. Some see this as a sop to creationists, many of whom believe Earth to be a mere four to eight thousand years old.
The state's schools superintendent, Kathy Cox, said in a news conference Thursday that the word evolution causes "a lot of negative reaction" and distracts people from the ideas being taught. Cox argues that people get so worked up about the "monkeys-to-man thing" that they lose sight of the larger ideas of evolution. Cox states that textbooks may still use the word evolution, and that teachers will still be able to use it and to teach related concepts.
Some teachers and scientists, however, oppose the changes, arguing they will provide teachers an excuse for glossing over evolutionary concepts; this, they say, will weaken biology teaching in the state and hinder students who go on to study biology in college.
These changes, though, are part of an ongoing process to overhaul Georgia's curriculum, and they could be overturned or modified with enough public support.
More:
Forgetting Darwin: Georgia's proposed science curriculum protects children from the "e' word
Georgia may shun 'evolution' in schools
Cox: 'Evolution' a negative buzzword
Science benchmarks from American Association for the Advancement of Science