Education Oversight Committee approves standards requiring students to learn arguments for/against evolution

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COLUMBIA - New language for high school biology standards is headed for consideration to the State Board of Education that would have students learn "the controversy."

The S.C. Education Oversight Committee on Monday sent proposed language to the board that would require biology students to construct scientific arguments that seem to support and seem to discredit Darwinism.

The decision comes more than two months after the subject became a divisive issue for many in the Palmetto State and nationally in February, when Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, voiced opposition during the review and approval of a new set of science standards for 2014.

At the time, Fair argued against teaching natural selection as fact, adding there are other theories students deserve to learn. He said the best way for students to learn was for the schools to teach "the controversy." On Monday, he reiterated his stance.

"We must teach the controversy," Fair said. "There's another side. I'm not afraid of the controversy. ... That's the way most of us learn best."

Barbara Hairfield, a Social Studies Curriculum Learning Specialist in the Charleston County School District, said she was in favor of having teachers use multiple texts and sources to teach. But she cautioned that this was an area where the committee needed to be very careful.

Hairfield said she doesn't oppose teaching the controversy, but she believes that's something that should come up during the discussion of the theory of natural selection.

"I'm not opposed to them talking about it, but what does that say to our students that are Hindu or Jewish or Buddhist," Hairfield said. "It's a fine line when academic standards could possibly be interpreted as promoting a religion."

She added she respected Fair for standing firm for what he believes in, yet she was one of four dissenting votes. The measure passed 7-4.

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Education Oversight Committee approves standards requiring students to learn arguments for/against evolution