Committee Approves Text Book List without Evolution Disclaimer

The Oklahoma Textbook Committee approved a list of science textbooks Friday that won't contain an evolution disclaimer. A recent state attorney general's ruling said the committee had no authority

Friday, February 18th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Oklahoma Textbook Committee approved a list of science textbooks Friday that won't contain an evolution disclaimer. A recent state attorney general's ruling said the committee had no authority to require the disclaimer in the first place.

Textbook committee members continued the tense debate set off last November by the evolution disclaimer issue. Ponca City teacher Laura Dobson argued again that all science books being considered contained significant inaccuracies. "Our charge as the Oklahoma Textbook Committee is to reject the books unless these inaccuracies are corrected,â€ Dobson said.

Norman teacher Lynne Machado moved for approval of all books on the list. "We are holding funds ransom and districts hostage as a result of this committee's action concerning the science disclaimer," she said.

Bartlesville member Carol Cone said the Attorney General's opinion railroaded members into voting yes. "It is a waste of taxpayer's money,â€ she said. â€œIt is a waste of the school districtâ€™s money." Others urged that it was time to move on.

Members discussed 15 science books and rejected four, challenging some on their absence of certain scientific principles. However, most of the debate still focused on evolution.

Afterward, the author of the disclaimer, John Dickmann, said its rejection doesn't keep religion out of schools. "Secular humanism's religion is still being taught in the classroom,â€ he noted. â€œI don't understand how we can be doing both things, saying religion shouldn't be taught and saying it should."

The committee's action clears the way for school districts to make their own selections from the list. Districts will have to hurry to make the March 15th publishers deadline. The committee next takes up social studies textbooks, which some say could ignite a similar debate. "I understand that Mr. Dickman has some concerns,â€ Machado said. â€œI don't know what they are, but yes, this is just the tip of the iceberg, if you will."

Machado believes the controversy has been helpful overall. If more parents talk with their children about what they believe, and the public gets more involved in education, there were important lessons learned. Dickmann says the disclaimer issue is dead unless someone outside the committee challenges the attorney general's ruling in court.