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NSTA Support for Draft 2
May 04, 2005
May 3, 2005
Kansas State Department of Education
120 SE 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612-1182
Dear Board Members:
On behalf of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and its 55,000 members nationwide*with more than 700 in the state of Kansas*we urge the Kansas State Board of Education to use the Kansas Science Education Revision Committee's Draft Two to best advise your decision on Kansas Science Standards.
The committee's work represents the best practices of the National Science Education Standards and Exemplifies good science. NSTA strongly supports the position that evolution is a major unifying concept in science and should be included in the K*12 science education frameworks and curricula. This position is consistent with those of the National Academies, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and many other scientific and educational organizations.
Though the Board members' decision has political ramifications, NSTA urges you to base your decision solely on what best represents what Kansas students should know about and be able to do as a result of their science studies.
Scientific evidence should be the primary basis for your decision. It is unfair to the students of Kansas to give them anything less. In addition, we believe the hearings you have planned to hold detract from the decision you must make on science standards because you are seeking opinions regarding language from failed legislation known as the Santorum "Amendment."
Furthermore, the committee's Draft Two represents far more research than six days of hearings could ever provide. Attached is NSTA's official position paper on The Teaching of Evolution. We would be glad to discuss this issue with you in more detail.
Feel free to contact us at 703-243-7100.
Sincerely,
Anne Tweede, NSTA Presdient
Gerry Wheeler, NSTA Executive Director