Religion Rears Its Ugly Head.Again.

From MSNBC this headline:

Kansas education board downplays evolution
State school board OKs standards casting doubt on Darwin

Once again Kansas is rushing forward to push religion ahead of knowledge, and has

"approved new public-school science standards Tuesday that cast doubt on the theory of evolution."

Who are they? Who do these people think they are? Are they all evolutionary scientists who have become disgruntled with the status quo? Have these scientists taken it upon themselves to call into question, challenging of course with evidence and documentation to support their position, the theory of evolution. Or are they something else all together?
I will go with the something else answer, as I investigated the Kansas State Department of Education website, found the board information and read the published biographies of the members who voted in favor of approving these new science standards. From what I read it appeared to me that there was nary an evolutionary scientist among them.
Here is what I found:

Mrs. Kathy Martin

Kathy belongs to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Clay Center

Mr. Kenneth Willard

He is active in his church, and school and community organizations.

Mr. John W. Bacon

John earned his Bachelor's degree in accounting from Mid- America Nazarene University in 1985 and is now self-employed as a certified public accountant.

Mrs. Iris Van Meter

Iris graduated from Kentucky Mountain Bible College in 1956 with a degree in Christian Education. She worked in broadcasting for several years as a radio announcer and control operator. Iris was a minister's wife for over 30 years and held many offices in the church and community.
She has been a Republican precinct committeewoman in Neosho County for several years and has been an active supporter of the Republican Party.

Mrs. Connie Morris

Her autobiography, From the Darkness: One Woman'’s Rise to Nobility, has been published by Huntington House Publishers. The book is Connie'’s story of recovery through Christ from incest, rape, domestic violence, substance abuse, and poverty during her early years in the Appalachian Mountains region.

Dr. Steve E. Abrams

He is a former board member of Family Life Services and is a member of First Baptist Church in Arkansas City.

Also from the article:

In addition, the board rewrote the definition of science, so that it is no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena.

Thank goodness for that gem. Won't that make the job of a scientist that much easier, not having to search for these so called "natural explanations". No more head scratching, no more thinking! No "natural explanation" required! Perhaps now the Flying Spaghetti Monster will get the recognition and standing it deserves, and will be taught alongside Darwin in Kansas Schools.

It is vital we all pay closer attention to, and take an active role in the democratic process at all levels if we don't want to make public schools nothing more than an extension of religious institutions.

Keep it where it belongs, preach to the converted.