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Scientists push pro-evolution candidates for state board
BY: MARILYN H. KARFELD, Senior Staff Reporter
Last February, the State Board of Education (BOE) voted to delete a controversial lesson plan that required Ohio biology students to critically analyze the theory of evolution. Detractors said the lesson was a Trojan horse for intelligent design, just another version of creationism, which had no place in science class.
The BOE acted only after a federal judge in Dover, Penn., ruled that intelligent design was a religious teaching, not a scientific principle, and could not be taught in a public school science class. Intelligent design posits that life is too complex to be explained by the random, natural selection of Darwinian evolution and thus must be the work of a supernatural being.
Earlier this month, the BOE voted to end what has been a four-year debate on how to properly teach students about the origins of life. But some board members say they won't give up advocating for a biology lesson to challenge evolution.
Thus, a group of scientists, concerned that Ohio's biology education must properly prepare students for 21st century life, are working hard to elect pro-evolution candidates for the BOE. They have targeted Deborah Owens Fink, a University of Akron marketing professor and an eight-year member of the board. She is a strong proponent of intelligent design.
Last summer, the scientists formed HOPE, Help Ohio Public Education, and recruited former Rep. Tom Sawyer, who also served previously as Akron mayor, to run against Owens Fink.
The two are running in District 7, which comprises Ashtabula, Portage, Summit and Trumbull Counties. Other candidates are John T. Jones of Akron, a mechanic; and David Kovacs of Akron, a college student.
The board of election consists of 11 elected representatives and eight “at-large” members appointed by the governor. State board members serve four-year terms, with staggered elections held every two years.
The only other race in Northeast Ohio is District 2, which covers Lorain, Erie, Huron, Lucas, Wood, and parts of Ottawa and Seneca counties. Martha Wise, a strong advocate of evolution, has given up her seat to run for the Ohio Senate.
The four candidates running in District 2 are John Bender of Avon, Kenneth Ault of Wayne, Roland Hansen of Toledo, and Kathleen McGervey of Avon.
HOPE is backing Bender, a retired college administrator and former state representative, who opposes teaching a critical analysis of evolution. McGervey, an engineer who has never held elective office, supports requiring students to analyze evolution. Ault and Hansen are equivocal on the subject, HOPE says.
The state board usually attracts little attention. In fact, this is the first time Fink has had any opposition; she has raised nearly $60,000 through September, election records show, almost four times what Sawyer has raised.
mkarfeld@cjn.org
The BOE acted only after a federal judge in Dover, Penn., ruled that intelligent design was a religious teaching, not a scientific principle, and could not be taught in a public school science class. Intelligent design posits that life is too complex to be explained by the random, natural selection of Darwinian evolution and thus must be the work of a supernatural being.
Earlier this month, the BOE voted to end what has been a four-year debate on how to properly teach students about the origins of life. But some board members say they won't give up advocating for a biology lesson to challenge evolution.
Thus, a group of scientists, concerned that Ohio's biology education must properly prepare students for 21st century life, are working hard to elect pro-evolution candidates for the BOE. They have targeted Deborah Owens Fink, a University of Akron marketing professor and an eight-year member of the board. She is a strong proponent of intelligent design.
Last summer, the scientists formed HOPE, Help Ohio Public Education, and recruited former Rep. Tom Sawyer, who also served previously as Akron mayor, to run against Owens Fink.
The two are running in District 7, which comprises Ashtabula, Portage, Summit and Trumbull Counties. Other candidates are John T. Jones of Akron, a mechanic; and David Kovacs of Akron, a college student.
The board of election consists of 11 elected representatives and eight “at-large” members appointed by the governor. State board members serve four-year terms, with staggered elections held every two years.
The only other race in Northeast Ohio is District 2, which covers Lorain, Erie, Huron, Lucas, Wood, and parts of Ottawa and Seneca counties. Martha Wise, a strong advocate of evolution, has given up her seat to run for the Ohio Senate.
The four candidates running in District 2 are John Bender of Avon, Kenneth Ault of Wayne, Roland Hansen of Toledo, and Kathleen McGervey of Avon.
HOPE is backing Bender, a retired college administrator and former state representative, who opposes teaching a critical analysis of evolution. McGervey, an engineer who has never held elective office, supports requiring students to analyze evolution. Ault and Hansen are equivocal on the subject, HOPE says.
The state board usually attracts little attention. In fact, this is the first time Fink has had any opposition; she has raised nearly $60,000 through September, election records show, almost four times what Sawyer has raised.
mkarfeld@cjn.org
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