INTRODUCTION

On Feb. 10 the State Board of Education passed a resolution of intent to adopt lesson "Set A" for the Model Curriculum in Science. This set contains a lesson, entitled "Critical Analysis of Evolution," that critically analyzes evolutionary theory; that is, the lesson presents evidence supporting and also evidence challenging macroevolution (the theory of descent from a common ancestry). The vote on Feb. 10 was 13-4, which is excellent for such a contentious issue. The Board is to be commended for this action. Unfortunately, however, this is not the final vote. The resolution will come up again at the March 9 State Board meeting. A favorable vote at that time will mean that the lessons in Set A will be adopted. For those of you who want more details and background information, go to the "Lesson on 'Critical Analysis of Evolution' " page.

CONTACT STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

Prior to this we have not asked the public to weigh in on the Model Curriculum. WE NOW NEED YOU TO GET INVOLVED. Please send a LETTER, FAX or E-MAIL to your own State Board representative and as many of the other members as possible. (You could also make a phone call, but that is NOT recommended unless you have worked with the Board member previously.)

For the thirteen Board members who voted YES, simply thank them for their "yes" vote on Science lesson Set A, and ask for their continued support on this issue. YES votes were Baker, Brown, Cochran, Craig, Griffin, Millett, Owens Fink, Ross, Sheets, Thatcher, Turner, Westendorf, and Wick.

For the four Board members who voted NO, express your disappointment and urge them to reconsider their position before the March 9 meeting. You might remind them that public input on the Science Standards in 2002 showed overwhelming support for teaching evidence both supporting and challenging macroevolution. The "Critical Analysis of Evolution" lesson is the ONLY module in Set A that fulfills this criterion. NO votes were Hovis, Richardson, Schloemer, and Stewart.

Two Board members were ABSENT from the Feb. 10 meeting (Jacobs and Wise). Mrs. Jacobs is NOT expected to be at the March 9 meeting, so she does not need to be contacted. Mrs. Wise has stated that she would have voted NO, so ask her to reconsider her position.

CONTACT INFORMATION (address, phone, Fax, e-mail) for all Board members may be found at www.ode.state.oh.us/board. E-mail messages may be sent to nearly all Board members directly from this link. If you don't know who your district's representative is, this can easily be found at this link.

CONTACT GOVERNOR TAFT

Gov. Bob Taft appoints eight of the nineteen State Board members, and he can thus have considerable influence on the Board. The Governor has indicated that he will not take a position on the Science Model Curriculum issue, but it is still important to let him know where you stand. Tell the Governor that you support the State Board's Feb. 10 decision on the Model Curriculum, and you hope that he will be supportive as well.

Gov. Taft's mailing address is 77 South High Street, 30^th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-6117; phone 614-466-3555. An E-MAIL may be sent to the Governor directly from this link: www.governor.ohio.gov/contactinfopage.asp.

It is vitally important that concerned citizens contact State Board members and Gov. Taft at this time. The 13-4 margin on Feb. 10 is good, but the deciding vote will be on March 9.