Most of the election results are in for the Kansas school board elections.
For those of you that weren't aware elections were yesterday, in which 5 of the school board member seats were either up for reelection, or being vacated. Four of the five seats belonged to members of the school board who had decided to redefine science to allow for the teaching of supernatural and insert false critisizms of evolution into the classroom.
After the Dover school board elections, many were hopeful that the theocrats would be swept from office after the embarassment Kansas suffered at their hands, being the state with the lowest rating for science standards in the entire nation.
In District 1, Janet Waugh (D) won over Jesse Hall (D), who was reported to be a stealth anti-evolution candidate by our buddy over at Red State Rabble. So that's good.
District 3, shows that the fundamenalist John Bacon (R) won over Harry McDonald (R) and David Oliphant (R). Aside from voting to redefine science, Bacon also voted to appoint Bob "Heckuva job" Corkins commissioner dispite a total lack of qualifications.
Over in District 5, the results are only 99% in at this point, but it looks like incumbent Connie Morris (R) has fortunately been defeated by Sally Cauble (R) in which Cauble has enough of a lead that the last 1% won't save Morris. Morris admitted to voting for the awful science standards in her last term dispite not having read them. Additionally, she seems to be drawing a lot of campaign money from out of state think tanks like the Discovery Institute. Additionally Morris and Steve Abrams (another fundamentalist candidate, not up for reelection) have tried to portary award winning books such as Tony Morrison's Beloved, and Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as pornography and inappropriate for children. I suppose she hasn't bothered to read the Song of Solomon in her Bible? Morris also tried to attend a conference in Miami on magnet schools (dispite having no magnet schools in her district) in which she stayed at a luxury hotel costing $339 a night. Conicidentally her daughter happened to live nearby.
Anti-science incumbent Ken Willard (R) looks to retain his position having defeated Donna Viola (R) and M.T. Ligget (R) in District 7.
Jana Shaver (R) appears to have beat incumbent Brad Patzer (R) in District 9. Patzer appears to have gotten a portion of his funding from a the right-wing PAC "Free Academic Inquiry and Research Federal PAC", which sponsors only creationist candidates, as did Morris, Bacon, and Willard.
So quick recap:
District 1: YAY!
District 3: BOO!
District 5: YAY!
District 7: BOO!
District 9: YAY!
Total score: 3 of 5 anti-science theocrats gone. Not as good as I'd hoped, but at least common sense and cooler heads have regained the majority.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteI haven't lived in Kansas for a number of years ago so I don't follow local politics as closely as I used to. What's the word on the Republican gubinatorial nominee (Jim Barnett) wrt science standards?
I hadn't been looking at anything other than the School Board candidates, so I wasn't familiar with Jin Barnett but I went ahead and did some digging.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the National Center for Science Education, Bartnett advocates teaching ID in science classes, but says that the decision should ultimately be left up to individual school boards without state interference. Way to endorse it but politically keep his hands clean.
Hmmm...sounds a bit mealy-mouthed. I'd give him a marginal BOO! Vote Sebelius.
ReplyDeleteNice to know someone else in Kansas is equally upset with the attempt to bring ID into the school classroom. I brought up my views on keeping ID/creationism out of the science classroom to some people I know. They looked at me like I had 3 heads. I was surprised to note the number of people who feel so strongly in favor of having creationism taught along side evolution in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteplease learn how to work your smell checker "District 3, shows that the fundamenalist John Bacon (R) won over Harry McDonald (R) and David Oliphant (R). Aside from voting to redefine science, Bacon also voted to appoint Bob "Heckuva job" Corkins commissioner dispite a total lack of qualifications." Normally I'd give you the benefit of the doubt but you mispelled despite twice as if you were a New Yorker (dis & dat, deese & doze).
ReplyDeletePS: the theological argument against the young earthers who insist that red shifted light was created that way is simple - god cannot be deceptive.
please learn how to work your smell checker
ReplyDeleteThe irony is strong with this one...
Nice to know someone else in Kansas is equally upset with the attempt to bring ID into the school classroom. I brought up my views on keeping ID/creationism out of the science classroom to some people I know. They looked at me like I had 3 heads. I was surprised to note the number of people who feel so strongly in favor of having creationism taught along side evolution in the classroom.
ReplyDelete