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SEPTEMBER 26, 2000

A new report released on Tuesday by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) grades states for their treatment of evolution in public schools.

While almost two-thirds of states received satisfactory or higher, only 10 ten states received a grade of A, denoting a "very good to excellent" teaching of evolution to students. Schools in this category introduced basic evolution concepts early on and made evolution a "centerpiece" in schools.

Some 14 schools received a grade of B or "good" and 7 were given a "satisfactory" C grade. These schools, says the report, present evolution but not to the same extent as grade A ones.

On the other hand, 12 states received a grade of F for their "useless or absent" treatment of evolution. One state, Kansas, received an F- for their "disgraceful" education standards.

The report says the state's curriculum avoids any mention of evolution at all.

The report evaluates whether evolution was taught as it applied to humans and geology. It briefly mentions that some Native American "religions hold that their ancestors have been located in their traditional tribal areas forever (i.e., for an infinite time.)"

Last week, the AAAS warned against a particular type of human genome research.

Get the Report:
Good Science, Bad Science: Teaching Evolution in the States (Lawrence S. Lerner)

Related Stories:
Experts issue gene research warning (The Medicine Wheel 9/19)

Relevant Links:
American Association for the Advancement of Science - www.aaas.org