Mount Vernon Board of Education turns down proposal



Mount Vernon Board of Education turns down proposal Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 3, 2003 edition of the Mount Vernon News MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Board of Education turned down a proposal on the teaching of evolution at its board meeting Monday at the Mount Vernon Middle School library. An objective origins science policy proposed by Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater had been turned down at a previous meeting, but the issue had found new life with a proposal by board member Dr. Margie Bennett. Bennett’s proposal was that if both micro- and macro-evolutionary theory continue to be taught, then both the evidence accepted by a majority of scientists and controversy proposed by other scientists should be included in class discussion. “This allows the objective examination of science. It supports discussion of the critical evolution of science,” Bennett said. “All of us recognize the controversy. The National Association recognizes the controversy. We encourage students to question things. Science is ever-changing ideas. As evolution is challenged, what’s wrong with questioning it?” “It’s important to me that children not only learn, but examine, question what they learn,” said Martha Farmer, who supported Bennett’s proposal. “They should study science as it’s taught, but it should not be limited to that. Allowing a child to think and question gives them a better understanding of what they’ve learned.” Despite the support of many members of the audience, Bennett’s proposal was turned down Monday. “The proposal is not quite tight enough, defined enough,” said board member Kathy Sherman. “Our controversial issues policy allows us to question things. “At the eighth-grade level, it’s not in the best interest of students to teach theories besides what we teach today. At the high school level, students can be taught other issues.” In other action, the board: •Recognized Laura Cliff as the Wal-Mart Knox County Teacher of the Year. Cliff teaches handicapped and disabled students at Dan Emmett Elementary School. •Honored several volunteers with Behind the Scenes Awards. Nancy Omahan and Jackie Teater were honored for their work at Wiggin Street Elementary School, and Wanda Baker and Doris Olekszak were honored for work at the middle school. •Recognized several employees who are retiring: Sharon Cookman, teacher at East Elementary; Char Etling, physical education teacher at East and Wiggin Street elementaries; Marcia Rice, middle school teacher; Virginia Switzer, school psychologist; and Don Dolwick, John Fair and Bill Jenkins, high school teachers. •Honored its spring sports athletes and teams, as well as scholar-athletes. •Heard a resolution from Superintendent Jeff Maley honoring the Columbia Elementary School Battle of the Books team. •Presented a certificate of excellence (senior citizen technology classes) to Anna Marie Crescimanno and Grace Miller. •Approved the Coaches Handbook. •Appointed Donna Scott as delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference. Sherman was designated as alternate. •Accepted two donations. Ted Mason donated Turbo Stats software to the girls’ softball program and Mettler-Toledo Inc. donated 12 balances, valued at $200 each, to the Mount Vernon Middle School Science Department. •Accepted bids from Harcum-Hyre Insurance Agency for vehicle insurance and multi-peril insurance coverage. The vehicle insurance for one year is $26,065, a slight decrease from last year, while the multi-peril insurance will be for $85,719, a nearly $20,000 increase from last year. Maley said the average insurance rate has increased 16 percent this year. •Established a job description for Technology Teacher Leader — Group IV and District Technology Teacher Leader — Group II. •Approved a long list of resignations, retirements and hirings for certificated and classified staff for the 2003-04 school year.	Advertisement

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 3, 2003 edition of the Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Board of Education turned down a proposal on the teaching of evolution at its board meeting Monday at the Mount Vernon Middle School library.

An objective origins science policy proposed by Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater had been turned down at a previous meeting, but the issue had found new life with a proposal by board member Dr. Margie Bennett. Bennett’s proposal was that if both micro- and macro-evolutionary theory continue to be taught, then both the evidence accepted by a majority of scientists and controversy proposed by other scientists should be included in class discussion.

“This allows the objective examination of science. It supports discussion of the critical evolution of science,” Bennett said. “All of us recognize the controversy. The National Association recognizes the controversy. We encourage students to question things. Science is ever-changing ideas. As evolution is challenged, what’s wrong with questioning it?”

“It’s important to me that children not only learn, but examine, question what they learn,” said Martha Farmer, who supported Bennett’s proposal. “They should study science as it’s taught, but it should not be limited to that. Allowing a child to think and question gives them a better understanding of what they’ve learned.”

Despite the support of many members of the audience, Bennett’s proposal was turned down Monday.

“The proposal is not quite tight enough, defined enough,” said board member Kathy Sherman. “Our controversial issues policy allows us to question things.
“At the eighth-grade level, it’s not in the best interest of students to teach theories besides what we teach today. At the high school level, students can be taught other issues.”

In other action, the board:
•Recognized Laura Cliff as the Wal-Mart Knox County Teacher of the Year. Cliff teaches handicapped and disabled students at Dan Emmett Elementary School.

•Honored several volunteers with Behind the Scenes Awards. Nancy Omahan and Jackie Teater were honored for their work at Wiggin Street Elementary School, and Wanda Baker and Doris Olekszak were honored for work at the middle school.

•Recognized several employees who are retiring: Sharon Cookman, teacher at East Elementary; Char Etling, physical education teacher at East and Wiggin Street elementaries; Marcia Rice, middle school teacher; Virginia Switzer, school psychologist; and Don Dolwick, John Fair and Bill Jenkins, high school teachers.

•Honored its spring sports athletes and teams, as well as scholar-athletes.

•Heard a resolution from Superintendent Jeff Maley honoring the Columbia Elementary School Battle of the Books team.

•Presented a certificate of excellence (senior citizen technology classes) to Anna Marie Crescimanno and Grace Miller.

•Approved the Coaches Handbook.

•Appointed Donna Scott as delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference. Sherman was designated as alternate.

•Accepted two donations. Ted Mason donated Turbo Stats software to the girls’ softball program and Mettler-Toledo Inc. donated 12 balances, valued at $200 each, to the Mount Vernon Middle School Science Department.

•Accepted bids from Harcum-Hyre Insurance Agency for vehicle insurance and multi-peril insurance coverage. The vehicle insurance for one year is $26,065, a slight decrease from last year, while the multi-peril insurance will be for $85,719, a nearly $20,000 increase from last year. Maley said the average insurance rate has increased 16 percent this year.

•Established a job description for Technology Teacher Leader — Group IV and District Technology Teacher Leader — Group II.

•Approved a long list of resignations, retirements and hirings for certificated and classified staff for the 2003-04 school year.