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This web site reflects the work of eight of 25 members of the
Kansas Science Writing Committee appointed in 2004
by the Kansas State Board of Education
The eight are authors of Proposed Revisions to the Kansas Science Standards.
The bulk of their proposals were made a part of Science Standards
adopted by a vote of the State Board of Education on November 8, 2005.
On February 13, 2007, a New Kansas Board
replaced the November 8, 2005 Standards with new
materialistic standards that permit only
material causes
to explain natural phenomena and that allow no
criticisms of evolutionary theory.
Click
here to view the changes adopted.
The authors have provided answers to frequently asked questions about
the former Standards in the brochure titled
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW
KANSAS SCIENCE STANDARDS
The
action taken by the Board was opposed by around
4,000 Kansas residents who signed a petition
urging the Board to reject the Materialistic
standards.
Click
here to complain about the Board's Endorsement
of Materialism
CLICK
HERE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
MATERIALISM
The balance of the materials on this web site provide a detailed explanation of the history and development of the changes.
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SUGGESTED
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF
LAW
Submitted to
THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE OF THE KANSAS
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
May 26, 2005
ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORS OF PROPOSED
REVISIONS TO
KANSAS SCIENCE
STANDARDS
by
John H. Calvert, J.D. (as to the facts
and law)
and
William S. Harris, PhD (as to the
facts)
The
suggested findings of fact are based
on testimony and evidence introduced
during the hearings on the Science
Standards in Topeka on May 5,6,7 and
12, 2005. The suggested
conclusions of law, are based on the
suggested findings of fact.
Response of
Pedro Irigonegaray, Esq., in
opposition to the revisions
Reply to the Response, by John H.
Calvert, J.D.
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Brief History of Proposed Revisions to Kansas Science Standards,
May 2004 to November 8, 2005
May 2004 In 2004 the Kansas State Board appointed a
Science Writing Committee of 25 scientists and
educators to revise Kansas Science
Standards. The Writing Committee began its
work in May 2004.
October 2004 In October 2004 authors of the proposed revisions discussed on this site presented their proposals to the Science Writing Committee for discussion and a vote. However leadership of the committee ruled the motions out of order and did not allow consideration and vote on the proposals.
December 2004 On December 10, 2004, and because of the action of the leadership mentioned above, the Authors, consisting of eight members of the Science Writing Committee, delivered to the Kansas State Board of Education proposed revisions to Kansas Science Standards. The proposals seek objectivity in origins science.
January 2005 Following the December 10, 2004 submission, the leadership of the Science Writing Committee was directed to consider and vote upon the proposals. As a result of that action some proposals were adopted, while others did not receive the necessary two-thirds vote to be included in the draft standards. Generally, the proposals of the Authors then reflected the view of about one-third of the Science Writing Committee.
March 2005 On March 9, 2005, the Writing Committee issued Draft 2 of the Science Standards. In response, the group of eight reissued their proposals so that they would be responsive to Draft 2. Their proposals have come to be known as the "Minority Report (Draft 2)."
The documents shown below consist of the revised Minority Report (Draft 2), a letter of transmittal to the State Board of Education and a hand-marked copy to show the areas of change between the December 10 Proposals and the Minority Report (Draft 2). Also shown are the documents associated with the December 10 submissions.
May 2005 Because of the substantive issues raised by the proposals of the Authors, the State Board of Education appointed a committee of three of its members to conduct hearings on the scientific validity and educational propriety of the proposals contained in the Minority Report.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON
MINORITY REPORT.
A Committee of the State board
held hearings on May 5, 6, 7 and 12, 2005 to provide for an in-depth examination
of the Minority Report and its proposed changes.
May 26 and June 6, 2005. FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS:
July 12, 2005
AS OF JULY 12, 2005, THE
STATE BOARD VOTED TO INCLUDE THE BULK OF THE
PROPOSED CHANGES IN DRAFT 2.
- For a copy of
the August, 2005 version of Draft 2 showing the changes
adopted by the Board click here.
- For a one-page summary
of the changes click
here. [Word
version]
- For a comprehensive summary of the changes made by the Board, click
here.
August, 2005
- On July 27, 2005 the
leadership of the Science Writing Committee
issued a proposed committee response to the
Changes made by the Board to Draft 2 of the
Standards. For a final version of that
Response (which is not significantly
different from the July 27 version, click
here. [word
version]
- On August 2, 2005, the
Authors of the Minority Report circulated to
the Writing Committee their preliminary
reply to the Response and a
detailed Reply
of Dr. Jonathan Wells, to four
key criticisms contained in the
Response.
- On August 8, 2005, the
Authors of the Minority Report circulated to
the entire Kansas State Board of Education
and to the Writing Committee their definitive
Reply to the Response. [word
version]
On August 9, 2005, the State Board was
provided with a Synopsis
of that Reply. [word
version]
- On August 9, 2005, the
State Board voted to submit Draft 2 for
external review, with the changes.
September, 2005
- On September 9, 2005,
Elie Wiesel and 37 other Nobel Laureates
issued a letter criticizing changes to the
Kansas Science Standards and urging the
Board to vote against them. [pdf version]
- On September 27, 2005,
the Authors of the Minority Report issued a
reply that points out the obvious ignorance
of the Laureates as to the nature and
substance of the Changes and how the Wiesel
letter actually reflects a compelling need
for the changes. [pdf version]
October, 2005
November, 2005
January 9, 2007
- An ad hoc group of former members of a
committee disbanded by the Kansas State
Board over a year ago proposed changes to
current science standards that would cause
Kansas to promote a materialistic
explanation of the origin of life. Click
here for the changes.
CLICK
HERE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
MATERIALISM
February 7, 2007
February 13, 2007
The following are
other documents relevant to the proceedings:
- Summary
of Changes made by the Board to the next
draft of the Science Standards
- Summary
of March 9 Proposals
- Letter of transmittal, dated March 29,
2005, recommending favorable consideration
of Proposed revisions to Draft 2 of Kansas
Science Standards, dated March 9, 2005
- Proposed Revisions to Kansas Science
Standards Draft 2,With Explanations,
dated, March 29, 2005
- Proposed Revisions to Kansas Science
Standards Draft 2,With Explanations,
dated, March 29, 2005 (Marked generally in
blue to show areas of substantive change
from the proposals dated December 10,
2004).
- Kansas Science Education Standards,
Working Draft dated July 12, 2005
- Letter of transmittal, dated December 10, 2004, recommending favorable consideration of Proposed revisions to Draft 1 of Kansas Science Standards, dated October 28, 2004 that were delivered to the Board on December 7, 2004
- Proposed Revisions to Kansas Science Standards Draft 1,With Explanations, dated, December 10, 2004
Feedback
Comments regarding the proposed revisions may be emailed to Proponents@att.net
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