Around the country, the implications of the Kitzmiller case-- which struck down the teaching of intelligent design in the Dover, Pennsylvania school system-- are being debated. On Friday, the Akron, Ohio Beacon Journal reported that Lawrence Krauss, a professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve University, told an Akron Press Club audience that Ohio's model lesson plan on the teaching of evolution is unconstitutional if the approach of Kitzmiller is applied. Most of Ohio's model lesson plan, called Critical Analysis of Evolution, is "directly from the book Of Pandas and People, which was the book that was shown in the Dover trial to be based on religion, not science," Krauss said. However, Ohio Department of Education spokesman J.C. Benton disagreed. He argued that unlike the Dover plan, Ohio's lesson plan does not mention intelligent design nor require that it be taught.
UPDATE: The Columbus Dispatch reports (Jan. 8) that pressure is growing for Ohio's state board of education to reconsider its controversial science standards.
Meanwhile, in California, school officials are faced with the question of whether it is permissible to teach intelligent design in a philosophy class, instead of in biology. The Associated Press on Friday reported that in Lebec, California, the school board, by a 3-2 vote, approved the teaching of a 4-week winter session class titled "Philosophy of Design". The course, offered by Frazier Mountain High School, is being taught by a minister's wife. Three experts on intelligent design are scheduled to speak while two evolution experts listed as guest speakers for the course are in fact not coming. One disagrees with the course, and the other listed guest speaker died in 2004. Glenn Branch, deputy-director of the National Center for Science Education said, "It doesn't matter if they label it philosophy, science or home ec. For this to be endorsed as scientifically credible is a violation of church-state separation." State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who has opposed teaching intelligent design as science, however, said "In a true philosophy class, if it's one of many concepts being discussed, I have no problem."
UPDATE: AP reported on January 10 that a suit on behalf of 11 parents has been filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State challenging the Frazier Mountain High School course. UPDATE: Here is the text of the complaint. [Thanks to Dispatches From the Culture Wars.]
