The Changing Face of Kansas Evolution Instruction - A Timeline of Events (February 2007)
An Archived EdLog™ News Feature

Events important to the Kansas controversy over evolution:

July 1, 1858: Linnean Society of London publishes joint paper from British naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace on natural selection and formation of new species.

Nov. 24, 1859: First edition of Darwin's "The Origin of Species," outlining his theories about evolution, is published.

Jan. 29, 1861: Kansas joins the Union as the 34th state.

July 10, 1925: In Dayton, Tenn., John Scopes is tried for violating state law against teaching evolution. The "Monkey Trial" lasts eight days; Scopes is convicted and fined $100, but conviction is overturned on appeal.

Nov. 12, 1968: U.S. Supreme Court strikes down an anti-evolution law in Arkansas, saying it violates a First Amendment mandate that government remain neutral on matters of religion.

June 19, 1987: U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a Louisiana law forbidding teaching evolution unless creation science is also taught. The ruling bans teaching of creationism in public school.

June 1991: Phillip Johnson, University of California law professor, publishes "Darwin on Trial," criticizing evolutionary theory. Johnson becomes known as the founding father of intelligent design movement.

May 11, 1999: Kansas Board of Education reviews proposed science standards written by a committee of educators. Board member Steve Abrams, an Arkansas City Republican, offers his own proposal, drafted with help from others, including the president of the Creation Science Association for Mid-America.

Aug. 11, 1999: Board votes 6-4 to adopt science standards in which most references to evolution are eliminated.

Feb. 9, 2000: Board member Scott Hill, an Abilene Republican who supported the new science standards, announces he won't seek re-election. His seat is won by Bruce Wyatt, a Salina Republican critical of the board's actions.

Aug. 1, 2000: Republican primary voters oust state board members Linda Holloway, of Shawnee, and Mary Douglass Brown, of Wichita, who supported the new science standards. Their opponents opposed the standards.

Jan. 9, 2001: Three new state board members, Wyatt; Sue Gamble, a Shawnee Republican, and Carol Rupe, a Wichita Republican, are sworn in, tipping power to a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

Feb. 14, 2001: Board votes 7-3 for new science standards restoring evolution's previous place in the standards as well-founded science, crucial for students to learn.

Aug. 6, 2002: Conservatives Connie Morris, of St. Francis, and Iris Van Meter, of Thayer, win a GOP primary against incumbents who favored a return to evolution-friendly standards.

Jan. 14, 2003: Morris and Van Meter are sworn in; board is split 5-5.

Aug. 12, 2003: The state board votes 7-3 to have state science standards reviewed but says work won't start for another year.

Aug. 3, 2004: Conservative Kathy Martin, of Clay Center, unseats Wyatt in Republican primary.

Jan. 11, 2005: Martin is sworn in, giving conservative Republicans a 6-4 majority on the board.

May 5, 2005: Three-member subcommittee opens four days of hearings on evolution, hearing testimony from intelligent design advocates. National and state science groups boycott, saying the hearings are rigged.

June 9, 2005: Subcommittee approves proposed standards containing language sought by intelligent design advocates.

Nov. 8, 2005: Board approves proposed science standards that treat evolution as a flawed theory.

March 14, 2006: Van Meter announces she won't seek re-election.

Aug. 1, 2006: Sally Cauble, of Liberal, defeats Morris in the GOP primary, while Jana Shaver, a moderate Republican from Independence, wins the GOP primary for Van Meter's seat. Those victories guarantee a 6-4 moderate board majority in 2007-08.

Nov. 7, 2006: Cauble and Shaver win their general election races. Three other board incumbents two conservative Republicans and a Democrat also win.

Jan. 9, 2007: The board's new moderate majority decides to reopen the debate over the science standards and reviews a proposal from a committee of scientists and educators. Tuesday: The board approves new standards.

Compiled by John Hannah, Associated Press Writer, February 14, 2007.

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