The matter

Before she moved to Wisconsin, my friend paleogrrl was complaining about how much she hated being in Kansas. I tried to defend it, because I have other friends there who like it, other friends who have lived there and look back favorably on it, and in general I don't like demonizing entire states.

For some reason, it took me stupidly long to put together two facts:

1. Paleogrrl is, in effect, a professional evolutionist.
2. Kansas is, well, not.

When a 27-member committee of scientists and teachers began the process of updating the standards, a vocal minority proposed inserting criticism of evolution. Six members of the Board of Education applauded the changes, and agreed to put most of them into the standards. Now the board is poised to put the amended standards to a final vote.

The changes to the standards incorporate substantial criticism of evolutionary theory, calling into question the theory made famous by Charles Darwin. Supporters say there isn’t proof of the origin and variety of life and the genetic code. The changes also alter the definition of science to allow for non-natural explanations.

Supporters of the changes say they don’t want children indoctrinated with an unproven theory.

Now, it's likely that these changes will be rolled back after the next school board elections. But the fact that these changes are being made at all is like ground glass on exposed skin to me. I can only imagine what it was like for her, and I can't blame her for getting out.