Evolution-Only Policy in Schools

The New Mexico board of education voted in Santa Fe to head off biblical creationism teachings by changing the language of state guidelines to make clear that only evolution belongs in science classes. The board voted, 10 to 1, to take the action, which sponsoring member Marshall Berman said was needed after a Kansas school board decision in August that opened the door for creationism by removing evolution as a key concept in the state’s required science curriculum. “What we did here today on teaching good science was instrumental,” Berman said after the vote. New Mexico school board leaders said this week that they wanted to clarify the curriculum’s language on evolution because some people felt it was too vague and left the door open for religious alternatives.