Background on "Critical Analysis" Lesson Plan

Ohio State Department of Education Model Curriculum Implementing Science Standards

In December 2002, the Ohio State Board of Education adopted Content Standards to establish the scope of the high stakes Ohio Graduation Test and thereby influence the science curriculum taught in Ohio's schools.

Subsequently the Department of Education selected teams of K-12 science teachers and others to write model Lesson Plans.

One Lesson for 10^th grade biology titled "Critical Analysis of Evolution" (NOTE: PDF file link; requires Acrobat Reader plug-in) presents an obvious Intelligent Design Creationist critique of evolution.

The relevant Indicator is:

Indicator(s): 23

Describe how scientists continue to investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory. (The intent of this indicator does not mandate the teaching or testing of intelligent design.)

The Lesson introduces classic Intelligent Design arguments into 10^th grade science classes through scripted debates and references to intelligent design materials The Lesson suggests five "aspects" of evolution for debate. Four "aspects" correspond to chapters in Icons of Evolution by Jonathan Wells, a Senior Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture, a prominent self-proclaimed Intelligent Design think tank.

University scientists, some members of the Ohio board of education and others note that the lesson contains only pseudo-scientific arguments. In spite of claims to the contrary, the lesson contains no data or experimental results. Half-truths (e.g. noting that no one has ever seen a bacterium become a chloroplast) are presented as "evidences" against the endo-symbiotic origin of cellular organelles.

This same group argues that the lesson follows outdated pedagogical methodology (debates), rote copying of questionable definitions (e.g. an anomaly as an idea rather than an observation or datum, and a theory as "a supposition"). The Lesson's grading rubrics award points for courtesy during presentation but no points for scientific validity.

The Lesson Plan contains numerous other errors. For example, a Nature reference included in the resources exists in title only on a Creationist Web site. A paper on lateral gene transfer was cited as a resource for the Fossil Record "aspect." Many citations are identical to those in Icons of Evolution, including outdated material that has been superseded by research in the last decade.

Among "Technology connections" recommended by the Lesson Plan are a Creationist Website (www.origins.org), and an Intelligent Design Website (www.arn.org).

The main proponents of the Lesson are members of Science Excellence for All Ohioans, the Ohio branch of the Kansas-based Intelligent Design Network.

On February 9, 2004, the Standards Committee of the Board removed Icons of Evolution from the Lesson Plan resources. Other Intelligent Design Creationism material was retained. The Committee did not delete material that depends on Icons of Evolution, thereby violating its own (parenthetic) prohibition against the teaching or testing of intelligent design.

On February 10 the Board passed a Resolution of Intent to Adopt the first set of Lesson Plans, including the "Critical Evaluation" Plan with its and Intelligent Design arguments intact by a 13-4 margin.

We urge those concerned with science education and the integrity of education to contact the Members of the State Board of Education to express that concern. Contact information for all Board members can be found here.