With the No Child Left Behind Act up for revision, how to teach about evolution would not seem to be the most pressing school issue facing the next president. But so far, it鈥檚 been the most prominent education-related topic raised in debates among the Republican presidential contenders.
In two nationally televised GOP debates, moderators asked whether the candidates believe in the theory of evolution.
鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting that that question would even be asked of somebody running for president,鈥� former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said at the , televised on CNN.
鈥淚鈥檓 not planning on writing the curriculum for an 8th grade science book,鈥� said Mr. Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister. 鈥淚鈥檓 asking for the opportunity to be president of the United States.鈥�
As for whether Earth was created in six days, as creationists believe, Mr. Huckabee said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 honestly know.鈥�
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas added: 鈥淚 am fully convinced there鈥檚 a God of the universe that loves us very much and was involved in the process. How he did it, I don鈥檛 know.鈥�
Asked by moderator Wolf Blitzer whether schools should teach creationism alongside evolution, Sen. John McCain of Arizona said he wouldn鈥檛 make that decision.
鈥淚 believe that that鈥檚 up to the school districts,鈥� Sen. McCain said. 鈥淏ut I think that every American should be exposed to all theories.鈥�
The Republicans鈥� discussion of teaching evolution was overshadowed by their debates about the war in Iraq, immigration, and abortion.
The only mention of the NCLB law was by Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who said he has been 鈥渟o disappointed鈥� in President Bush on several issues, including immigration and 鈥渢he No Child Left Behind.鈥�
Two days earlier in Manchester, education didn鈥檛 come up until the end of the , also televised on CNN.
In a rushed response to a question from a teacher in the audience about the candidates鈥� agendas for their first 100 days in the White House, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said: 鈥淣obody鈥檚 talked about your profession, education.鈥�
Gov. Richardson quickly summarized his education platform鈥攗niversal pre-K, full-day kindergarten, and a $40,000 鈥渕inimum wage鈥� for teachers鈥攁s Mr. Blitzer reminded candidates that time was running out.
For more stories on this topic see our Curriculum and Learning and Federal news pages.
