The Evolution of Kathy Cox.

State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox’s proposal for new middle and high school science standards would strike references to “evolution” and replace them with the term “biological changes over time.”

When I first heard this on the news, I thought it was a joke. Honestly, I think a lot of people did. Why on earth would anyone propose such a proposterous change in the textbooks of Georgia’s classrooms? At first I could not think of any reason for it. Then it hit me.

This has nothing to do with the issue of “creationism” versus “evolution”. It has to do with attention.

A spokesman for the Department of Education issued a statement Wednesday that said: “The discussion of evolution is an age-old debate and it is clear that there are those in Georgia who are passionate on both sides of the issue — we want to hear from all of them.”

Obviously, Kathy Cox and the Board of Education have nothing better to do than to drag the students of Georgia schools (and the citizens of Georgia) into the national spotlight, over an issue that is totally idiotic.

Whether or not you believe in creationism or you believe we evolved from apes, one thing you cannot deny is that evolution, in biology, exists.

Cox, a Republican elected to the state’s top public school position in 2002, addressed the issue briefly in a public debate during the campaign. The candidates were asked about a school dispute in Cobb County over evolution and Bible-based teachings on creation.

Scientists consider evolution the basis for explaining the diversity of living things.

She would leave the state out of it? She would make sure teachers were well preparted to deal with competing theories? Obviously she does not want them to “teach” them. Just deal with them. Nice approach.

The revision of Georgia’s curriculum began more than a year ago as an attempt to strengthen the performance of students by requiring greater depth in certain subjects. The new curriculum will replace standards adopted in 1984 that have been criticized by many educators as shallow.

This idea will replace old standards which are considered shallow? You’ve got to be kidding me. There is nothing more shallow than a Superintendent of Schools who thinks she knows so much that she can deprive the children of the state of Georgia a proper education.

This issue has done something productive however. I agree with something Jimmy Carter has said, for the first time in a very, very, long time.

“As a Christian, a trained engineer and scientist, and a professor at Emory University, I am embarrassed by Superintendent Kathy Cox’s attempt to censor and distort the education of Georgia’s students,” Carter, a native of Plains, Ga., said in a statement.

“There can be no incompatibility between Christian faith and proven facts concerning geology, biology and astronomy,” said Carter, who teaches a Sunday school class at Maranatha Baptist Church that regularly draws hundreds of worshippers.

I think Carter hits the nail on the head with the following quote:

“There is no need to teach that stars can fall out of the sky and land on a flat earth in order to defend our religious faith.”

The good news for us, is that the entire Board of Education will decide this issue, and not Ms. Cox.

During a Thursday press conference, Cox repeatedly referred to evolution as a negative “buzzword” and said it was removed, in part, to alleviate pressure on teachers in socially conservative areas where parents object to its teaching.

The question here is, can we replace Ms. Cox with a new Superintendent that is not considered shallow to alleviate pressure on citizens in socially concious areas?

We will just have to wait for the evolution of Kathy Cox and the Georgia Board of Education to find out.