No change to Kiel's science curriculum

KIEL - The proposal to teach alternative theories of origins of man in the classrooms of Kiel High School appears to be done for now.

Tuesday night the school board heard input on both sides of the issue.

Back in the fall, Patty Kubetz wrote a letter to the board asking them to consider adding creationism and other alternative theories to the high school freshman science curriculum.

While her husband is on the board, Kubetz home schools her two children. She says she made the request as a concerned citizen, since currently, the curriculum only focuses evolution.

"I'm not asking teachers to teach Creationism, I'm just asking teachers to address and to acknowledge the beliefs students have," said Kubetz to the board.

Since the request, school officials say members of the staff have been reviewing that option.

Wednesday night, board members heard input from the community.

Some people said the proposed change would have forced certain beliefs on others, and feel a mandate would only complicate things.

However, those for the change, say it would have brought balance to the classroom and acknowledges that there are other beliefs out there.

In the end, the board decided to leave the curriculum as is. School officials say discussions on other theories are already being done in the classroom unofficially

"I'm a little disappointed, I'll admit that, but the community has spoken and the community decides, I'm only one out of 2,000 parents, so, what can I say," Kubetz said.

"We've had committees look at it, we've had staff look at it, we've had community input and at this point when it comes to the board and we discover that much of what we're doing is really enforcing community values, then we're not compelled to make a change in policy and procedure," explained Cynthia Schmahl, School Board President.

When this issue came to light, the Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation threatened legal action against the school district if it moved forward with the proposal, claiming it to be unconstitutional.

However the board president says that in no way influenced the board's decision.