Can Kansans Coexist?

Should evolution be taught as an established, unchallenged science or should it be recognized only as a theory, with other concepts such as Intelligent Design weighed along side it? The tension between the two sides of this divisive hot national topic is most acute in Kansas.

On November 8, the Kansas State Board of Education adopted new Kansas Science Standards causing quite a stir throughout the region. The recent changes include a revised definition of science, making teachers throughout the state reevaluate the way they must introduce evolution to students. For example, teachers must now make it clear to their pupils that evolution is a theory and not a fact.

While there has been much publicity on the Kansas Board's decision, it proves difficult to find articles that do not allow the author's opinion to leak in. Emotions run strong, as even the most objective reports seem to choose sides.

Since the November change, numerous people of prestige including the Kansas Senator as well as the Chancellor and Provost of the University of Kansas (KU) have released announcements regarding their stance on the issue. To add to the debate, the University of Kansas' Natural History Museum has released the Explore Evolution exhibit.

But what is most telling has been a chain of events surrounding KU professor Paul Mirecki. A religious studies professor, and until the past month, chair of the religious studies department, Professor Mirecki has become the talk of the town. He is the man who decided to respond to the new Kansas Science Standards by offering a KU class titled Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies . What is more, some comments Mr. Mirecki made about Catholics and religious conservatives during an email exchange have sparked harsh criticism across the country. It did not take long before he had withdrawn the controversial class, filed a police report for an alleged assault that left him hospitalized, and ultimately stepped down from the religious studies chair position at the University.

However Mirecki might not have stepped down voluntarily. New evidence suggests that Professor Mirecki is seeking legal council for supposed allegations that he was forced by KU higher-ups to step down rather than having chosen to do so himself.

How do Kansas teachers feel about the implementation of the new Standards? A sixth grade teacher from a Kansas City school says, "I do not want to compromise my beliefs and feelings, so I might think of a diplomatic way of handling the subject."

Another teacher from a rural Kansas high school voices a major concern: "Most teenagers live in a world of black and white—something is or it isn't. They see the theory of evolution questioned by public officials, they will think it is garbage. In my mind, the theory of evolution is difficult to dispute. I only still consider it a theory because it is a work in progress."

A teacher from Lawrence Kansas expresses her feelings: "People are afraid of change and things they do not agree with. It's hard to keep emotion out of this debate."

Many question whether the State of Kansas is revolutionary or taking a step backwards? The answer to this question may not lie in the debate itself, but rather in the hearts of the people, and the choices they make in reaction to the State's changes.

The Lawrence teacher adds, "I would rather see people discuss ideas and be willing to listen—individuals have to make up their own mind as to what they believe and why they do so. We can agree to disagree."