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November 10, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EdWatch Calls for Academic and Balanced Science
Standards
EdWatch, a statewide parent/citizen watchdog organization that represents
30,000 people across the state of Minnesota, is encouraging members of the
academic science standards committee to focus the new standards on
academic knowledge and avoid political agendas of unbalanced
environmentalism.
The legislature repealed the Profile of Learning last May, and required
that new standards be clear, objective and verifiable. EdWatch
called on the committees to keep the new standards knowledge-based.
"Concepts and abilities of inquiry cannot be developed without
knowledge of facts," stated Dr. Karen Effrem, an EdWatch board
member. "Science should be the study of what is true in nature."
Science Standards have been the subject of criticism by education groups.
"Environmental science often presents a crisis approach in education
that precludes a balanced discussion of the available data," said
Effrem. "The new Minnesota science standards should avoid the
political agenda that ignores the positive aspects of human development
and activity."
Biological evolution will also be addressed in the new science standards.
Comments from the statewide public hearings and those sent to the
Department of Education on the new standards overwhelmingly expressed the
public's expectation that Minnesota standards include data showing the
significant problems with evolution as a theory for the development of
life on earth.
The Santorum amendment, a section of the No Child Left Behind conference
report, clarifies Congressional intent that all sides of controversial
subjects such as evolution be included. The amendment states: "Where
topics are taught that may generate controversy [such as biological
evolution], the curriculum should help students to understand the full
range of scientific views that exist and why such topics may generate
controversy, and how scientific discoveries can profoundly affect
society."
EdWatch (formerly the Maple River Education Coalition) will be present at
Saturday's standards committee meeting to urge the members to incorporate
the Santorum language into the Minnesota science standards as provided by
federal guidance on the subject.
Contact information: Dr. Karen Effrem 763-458-7119
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