Disclaiming Evolution In Oklahoma

The 'Evolution Disclaimer' Fiasco

The vehicle for the 'evolution disclaimer' was a little know committee of Oklahoma government, the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee. The committee members are appointed by the governor of Oklahoma, at the time of this writing the Honorable Frank Keating. Governor Keating is referred to by some residents of Oklahoma as 'BumbleFrank' owing to his uncanny knack for bumbling, sticking his foot in his mouth and generally embarrassing those Oklahomans with in IQ greater than 85.

The "Evolution Disclaimer Fiasco" began on November 5, 1999 when the Oklahoma Textbook Committee comprised of 11 members, all hand picked by Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, aka "Bumble Frank" voted unanimously to require the following "disclaimer" appear in all high school Biology text books used in the public schools of Oklahoma:

There are many unanswered questions about the origin of life, which are not mentioned in your textbook, including: Why did the major groups of animals suddenly appear in the fossil record, known as the Cambrian Explosion? Why have no new major groups of living things appeared in the fossil record in a long time? Why do major groups of plants and animals have no transitional forms in the fossil record? How did you and all living things come to possess such a complete and complex set of instructions for building a living body? Study hard and keep an open mind. Someday you may contribute to the theories of how living things appeared on earth.

As the initial news of the Textbook Committee's action spread so did information pertaining to the make up of the committee. News media reports revealed:

The majority of members of the committee are also members of a teachers organization called the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators, an ultra- conservative organization representing only 1,200 Oklahoma teachers.

No members of the Oklahoma Education Association, representing the remaining 26,000 Oklahoma teachers were on the committee.

Only one of the members teaches high school science.

One committee member, Laura Dobson, a kindergarten teacher stated that she used the advice of a Florida evangelist who preaches that the Loch Ness Monster is a dinosaur whose existence proves that evolutionary theory is a hoax.

Committee member John Dickmann a middle school teacher, and member that introduced the disclaimer stated: "Some of us on the committee wanted to send a strong statement to the publishers that we are fed up with textbooks that only present one side of the story"

With the action of a committee such as this it is not surprising that it did not take long for news of the Textbook Committee's "evolution disclaimer" to spread. Within days it was "national news" as ABC News featured a report report titled "Evolution Questioned in Okla". This was only the beginning of the story. Before the story played out fully Oklahoma was once again the laughing stock of the nation.

Shortly the ABC News report a number of authors of Biology textbooks made public a letter addressed to "Oklahoma Parents and Educators" in which they expressed their surprise and disappointment at the actions of the Oklahoma Textbook Committee. That letter is available here: Letter to Oklahoma Parents and Educators

As news of the "evolution disclaimer" spread far and wide there developed an intense interest in the events taking place in Oklahoma. Advocacy groups supporting the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took note of the on-going debate, and numerous articles published decrying Oklahoma's efforts to return to the days of the Scopes Monkey Trial.

The National Science Teachers Association's issued a statement which said the organization ``believes that the disclaimer does not reflect an accurate interpretation of the concept of evolution and distorts the nature of science. . . . In addition, it does nothing to improve the quality of science education in Oklahoma, and will only confuse science teachers and students and weaken the integrity of science education.''

Within Oklahoma the "evolution disclaimer" was the focus of great debate and the issue heated up rapidly. Politicians, religious leaders, educators and the general public "chose sides" and argued the issue throughout the "holiday season" and 1999 came to a close with the issue of Oklahoma's "evolution disclaimer" unresolved.

Here are some highlights, compiled from news media reports, from that period:

Senator Jerry Smith of Tulsa stated, "Evolution is a theory. Nobody was around when it happened. I don't have a problem teaching Creationism in the classroom."

Senator Charles Ford of Tulsa speaking in reference to the evolution disclaimer stated, "I don't see any harm."

Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, speaking in defense of his hand picked Textbook Committee said, "On the other hand, I would say it would be unacceptable to say creation science should not be taught in public schools."

When it was pointed out that the United States Supreme Court had ruled that "Creationism" could not be taught in public schools, Keating replied with "I Dissent". Evidently Keating believes he has the power to over-ride a Supreme Court ruling.

In response to Keating's defense of the "evolution disclaimer" the Tulsa World Editors in an editorial titled "Gov. Gutless", date 11/17/99 stated: "Declaring that he doesn't believe he is descended from a baboon, Gov. Frank Keating promptly proved himself to be an ass when discussing the controversy he has brought about over the evolution vs. religion issue.

The Tulsa World editorial concluded, "No, the governor is not descended from a baboon. But it's a close call."

To which this writer would add the Tulsa World's editorial staff is "too kind" in judging the Governor, "a man called BumbleFrank" by many.

Other responses to the "evolution disclaimer" included the following:

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, headed by Barry Lynn, a United Church of Christ minister and social activist sent a letter to Oklahoma Secretary of Education Floyd Coppedge protesting the Textbook Committee's actions and suggesting that it could result in a lawsuit.

The Oklahoma Christian Coalition endorsed evolution disclaimer, saying "evolution is a debunked theory." Ken Wood, state executive director of the group, said recent scientific research has dealt evolution a "knockout blow." When it was pointed out to Mr. Wood that over 120 natural science faculty members associated with the University of Oklahoma have condemned the textbook disclaimers, he went on to say, "those scientists are misguided and victimized by their education."

The Tulsa Interfaith Alliance called a press conference to announce its opposition to the textbook evolution disclaimer. When Interfaith Alliance Board Chairman Russell Bennett asked for questions, several supporters of the disclaimer touched off a heated debate in the midst of the news conference. Dan Hicks, a conservative political and Christian activist stated, "All scientists do not agree on evolution. This disclaimer is responsive to what the majority of Oklahomans believe." To this a member of the Alliance responded with the most reasoned view voiced throughout the entire debate when he stated, "Science isn't done by vote."

That final comment, "Science isn't done by vote.", in only five clear and concise words reveals a level of enlightenment that evidently escapes the political and government leaders of Oklahoma, leaders that evidently believe that "science" is simply a matter of public opinion, popularity contest, or a vote of the people. Science is NOT about majority rule, regardless of what the leaders of the State of Oklahoma believe.

This above point, that "science isn't done by vote", ultimately won out in the "evolution disclaimer" debate, as Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson called upon in his official capacity to determine the legality of the disclaimer issued an opinion which found that not only did the Oklahoma Textbook Committee lack the legal authority to require such a disclaimer it had violated the state's Open Meeting Law, in enacting such a requirement during the November 5th, 1999 meeting. With this ruling the Oklahoma Attorney General brought an end to "The Great Evolution Disclaimer Fiasco", or did he?

The answer to that question is not yet known. In Oklahoma, an "official opinion" issued by the Attorney General carries the weight of law. As such it can only be over-turned by legislative action enacting a statute which changes the basis upon which the AG's opinion was issued. In other words the Attorney General's opinion stated that since the statutes did not vest "disclaimer authority" in the Oklahoma Textbook Committee, it could not legally require such a disclaimer appear in textbooks. However nothing prevents the state legislature from enacting such legislation which would become law if signed by the Governor.

In spite of the fact that the Oklahoma Attorney General determined that the Textbook Committee had violated Oklahoma's "Open Meeting Law" when it enacted its illegal disclaimer, no action was taken in that regard by the District Attorney with jurisdiction, Oklahoma County District Attorney Bob Macy. In light of Macy's refusal to uphold his oath of office, a private citizen in Tulsa filed criminal charges against the members of the Textbook Committee in an effort to force Macy to "do what's right". Macy again refused to act against the members of the Textbook Committee for their violation of the Open Meetings Act.

Three months after the Attorney General's opinion striking down the "evolution disclaimer", the issue surfaced in the Oklahoma Legislature in the form of an amendment to a bill dealing with the make up of the Oklahoma Textbook Committee. The amendment was introduced by Representative Jim Reese of Nardin, Oklahoma, a farming community of 50 near the Oklahoma and Kansas border. Rep. Reese's amendment to a Senate Bill, was referred to as the "One God of the Universe Bill" and would have required all science textbooks approved by the Committee to contain:

"acknowledgment that human life was created by one God of the universe."

I can not fault Representative Reese for any of these things, for they are at the heart of individual liberty and are each part of his right to choose. What I do fault Rep. Reese for however is to think that he as a member of the Oklahoma Legislature has the power to "Legislate God" and/or a belief in "his God" for the citizens of this state.

My only prayer in regard to Representative Reese and his constituents is that they don't suddenly decide that God has commanded them to stone to death those that disagree with their views, as Oklahoma can ill afford to loose any of the few freedom loving and Constitution supporting citizens that it has.

Of course my views in that regard are NOT shared by the Oklahoma Legislature which voted unanimously, 99-0, in favor of Representative Reese's "One God of the Universe Bill".

Fortunately for those of us that value our religious freedom the Oklahoma Senate was not caught up in the religious insanity that swept the House and refused to bring Representative Reese's "One God of the Universe Law" out of committee, consigning it to a fitting death. However, Rep. Reese and others have restated their desire to bring the issue up during the 2001 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, so there's still a chance that the citizens of Oklahoma will yet be required to "acknowledge" Representative Reese's "One God of the Universe".

Stay tuned for new info and developments as they occur...

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