Search for Science Standards Changes Master Plan

In yesterday's post, I asked, "Who is responsible for the plan to amend the [Kansas] standards by attempting to cast doubt on evolution and changing the definition of science?" I have decided to attempt an answer to my question by conducting a Web search for clues and telltale signs of this malfeasance. One of the likely culprits is the Kansas Republican Assembly (KRA), wing-nut central and sponsor of the Free Academic Inquiry and Research Committee (FAIR).

On the KRA Web site, http://www.ks-ra.org/, Charlotte Esau, KRA Executive Director writes, "…we must hang onto our state school board seats and work to grow our majority there!" Although no reference to the redefinition of science or questions about evolution was found on the KRA Web site, KRA supports the KBOE members who messed with the science standards.

In a KRA Web site page seeking money for wing-nut candidates, is written:

"Funds donated to the Free Academic Inquiry and Research Committee (FAIR) go to recruit and support candidates for office who support reform in our education system. FAIR is largely responsible for the current majority on the Kansas State Board of Education and is pleased to support candidates who share KRA's vision for better, more efficient schools that place Kansas students at the head of the class."

KBOE wing-nuts have used educational reform as one of several justifications for their actions vis-à-vis the science standards. "Better, more efficient schools" is touted as a benefit of a school voucher program proposed by Kansas Education Commissioner Corkins. FAIR's funding is intended to advance KRA's vision for education, but nowhere is the need to alter science standards to remove a possible barrier to vouchers mentioned. KRA appears to be part of a complicity in the science standards mess, but no master plan is overt on their Web site. The search will continue.

In the meantime, I hope KRA will explain how all the students in Kansas could be placed "…at the head of the class." Also, I hope KRA will correct misspelled words on their Web site. After all, if someone claims to promote education, at least they should exhibit some benefit from it.