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Georgia Public School Board Members' Beliefs Concerning the Inclusion of Creationism in the Science Curriculum

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Georgia Public School Board Members' Beliefs Concerning the Inclusion of Creationism in the Science Curriculum The Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism Volume 6 Print Reference: Pages 461-471 Article 37 2008 Georgia Public School Board Members' Beliefs Concerning the Inclusion of Creationism in the Science Curriculum Karen Cook Steven W. Deckard Kathie (Johnson) Morgan Liberty University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/icc_proceedings DigitalCommons@Cedarville provides a publication platform for fully open access journals, which means that all articles are available on the Internet to all users immediately upon publication. However, the opinions and sentiments expressed by the authors of articles published in our journals do not necessarily indicate the endorsement or reflect the views of DigitalCommons@Cedarville, the Centennial Library, or Cedarville University and its employees. The authors are solely responsible for the content of their work. Please address questions to [email protected]. Browse the contents of this volume of The Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism. Recommended Citation Cook, Karen; Deckard, Steven W.; and Morgan, Kathie (Johnson) (2008) "Georgia Public School Board Members' Beliefs Concerning the Inclusion of Creationism in the Science Curriculum," The Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism: Vol. 6 , Article 37. Available at: https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/icc_proceedings/vol6/iss1/37 In A. A. Snelling (Ed.) (2008). Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Creationism (pp. 461–471). Pittsburgh, PA: Creation Science Fellowship and Dallas, TX: Institute for Creation Research. Georgia Public School Board Members’ Beliefs Concerning the Inclusion of Creationism in the Science Curriculum Karen S. Cook, Ed. D., Melanie Court, Jonesboro, GA 32036 Steven W. Deckard, Ed. D., 909 Wellington Drive, Forest, VA 24551 Kathie Morgan (Johnson), Ed. D., Liberty University, 1971 University Boulevard, Lynchburg, VA 24501 Abstract This study investigated the beliefs of Georgia Public School board members regarding young earth creationism (YEC) and old earth creationism (OEC) and the association of these beliefs with the inclusion or exclusion of creationism in the district science curriculum of Georgia public schools. A random sampling (144) of 1,034 local school board members were invited to participate in the survey. Data analysis indicated that school board members’ beliefs regarding school board members in YEC had a positive correlation while beliefs in OEC had a negative correlation with the permitted inclusion of creationism in the district science curriculum. However, no correlation was found between school board member beliefs in YEC/OEC and the required inclusion of creationism. The results of this study provide insight into connections between beliefs of board members and the science/creationism issue which may translate into enlightened voting decisions. Keywords Beliefs, Creationism, Young earth creationism, Old earth creationism, Evolution, School board members, Administrators Introduction question of teaching creationism along with evolution Correlational aspects of the attitudes and beliefs in public schools, 68% favored, 29% opposed, and 3% of local school board members and their actions no opinion. These poll results indicate a strong public connected to the inclusion of creationism in the interest in the inclusion of creationism in the science district science curricula of Georgia public schools curriculum. These polls indirectly address the specific were investigated. The school board answers to the issues researched in this study. voting public; because the inclusion of creationism in science curricula is very controversial and emotionally Problem statement charged. The aim of this study was to identify possible Several public opinion polls were reported in the relationships between beliefs of Georgia public school Polling Report web site. In a New York Times poll board members in young earth creationism or old earth (November, 2004), the following question was asked: creationism and the district’s permitted or required “Would you generally favor or oppose teaching creation inclusion of creationism in science classrooms. along with evolution in public schools?” The results were: 65% favored; 29% opposed; and, 6% unsure. In Research Questions and Hypotheses the same poll, another question was asked: “Would Research question 1 you generally favor or oppose teaching creationism What is the relationship between school board instead of evolution in public schools?” The results of members’ personally held beliefs in YEC and OEC were: 37% in favored; 51% opposed; and 12% unsure. regarding creationism and the inclusion of creationism These results differed slightly from a July, 2006 in the school district science curriculum? Pew study by Schulman, Ronca, and Bucuvalas of The following null hypotheses were created based 996 adults nationwide. In this study, 58% said they on the first research question: favored creationism being taught along with evolution, H01: There is no significant relationship between 35% opposed this, and 7% were unsure (Science and school board members’ personally held beliefs Nature, 2006). regarding young earth creationism and the permitted According to the results of a 1999 Gallup Poll inclusion of creationism in the school district science using a random sampling of 1,000 adults, on the curriculum. 462 K. S. Cook, S. W. Deckard, & K. Morgan (Johnson), H02: There is no significant relationship between concerning the creationism/evolution issue. Local school board members’ personally held beliefs school boards frequently view the management regarding old earth creationism and the permitted of routine county business as their primary inclusion of creationism in the school district science responsibility. School boards tend to be conservative curriculum. in worldviews as well as beliefs and attitudes. While H03: There is no significant relationship between conservatives are more likely to support a place for school board members’ personally held beliefs creationism in the curriculum, the school boards are regarding young earth creationism and the required also somewhat sensitive to political pressure because inclusion of creationism in the school district science they are answerable to the voting public. Therefore, curriculum. the role of school board members regarding the H04: There is no significant relationship between inclusion of creationism in the science curriculum school board members’ personally held beliefs warrants further investigation. Additionally, twenty- regarding old earth creationism and the required three cases were reviewed in which the school board inclusion of creationism in the school district science initiated the move to include or exclude creationism curriculum. or Christian principles in the curriculum. The review suggests that school board members may be likely Review of the Literature to initiate decisions on the inclusion of creationism This review examines the role of school board in the districts’ science curricula (Applebome, 1996; members throughout the United States and their Bennett, 1999; “Creationism” 2004; Heuvel, 2004; district decisions relating to the inclusion or exclusion Lawrence, 2005; McCoy, 2005; Parlow, 2005; Price, of creationism from the science curriculum. 2004; Renick, 2004; Schneder, 2003; “School board,” 1996; Scott, 1997; Sidoti, 2002; “Time for new blood,” Board members initiate efforts to include 2006; “Town’s schools,” 2002; “WV,” 2000; Williams, or exclude creationism 2004; Wyatt, 2000). We draw from two examples in Georgia. Cobb County, Georgia has been in the national spotlight Factors affecting curricular decisions as a result of the creationism/evolution issue. concerning the creationism/evolution issue After receiving a petition in 1996 (with over 2,300 When school board members set curriculum for signatures from citizens) supporting the removal Georgia public schools, they must adhere to state of a chapter in a fourth-grade text on evolution, objectives. These objectives set minimum skill levels. the board approved a disclaimer sticker for biology Districts may include additional objectives or skills textbooks. The ACLU argued that the sticker was in the curriculum in addition to the state standards unconstitutional and a “fundamentalist Christian (“Science standards,” n.d.). These additional objectives expression.” (“Georgia school board”, 2002, p. 1) At a must not violate any state or federal regulation or September, 2002 board meeting, Rule IBD: Theories court order (Deckman, 1999, 2002). of Evolution were approved. According to the board, Since the 1987 Supreme Court ruling that banned a “discussion of disputed views of academic subjects” creationism in public school science instruction, critics including creationism were permitted to encourage of evolution have asserted that scientific controversies critical thinking, tolerance, and religious neutrality concerning evolution should be included in the (Rule IDBD, 2002, p. 1). In January of 2005, a federal curriculum (Holden, 2002; Toland, 2005). Lawsuits judge ordered the disclaimer stickers removed from (or threats of lawsuits) by the opposition have resulted Cobb County science texts because they could be in the removal of creationism from many district interpreted as supporting a particular religious science curriculums (Associated Press, 2005; “Judge belief (Associated Press, 2005; “Judge nixes textbook nixes textbook stickers,” 2005; “Kitzmiller v Dover,”
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