Submitted
In a letter to Ray Merrick, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives dated February 19, the organization Kansas Citizens For Science (KCFS) has asked that Sub HB 2292 not be brought to the floor for a vote. KCFS is committed to defending the science education standards currently in place in the state’s public schools.
“This bill would be a terrible setback for science education in the state of Kansas”, said KCFS President Philip Baringer.”There is no reason to do this and every reason not to do it.”
Sub HB 2922 would prohibit teaching anything that aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, which were adopted in June 2013 by the Kansas State Board of Education as the Kansas College- and Career-Ready standards for science in Kansas public schools.
“Including Kansas’ strong science standards in this destructive bill is a terrible disservice to Kansas’ public school students,” said KCFS Vice President Cheryl Shepherd-Adams, a Hays High School physics teacher. “This bill would forbid students from learning anything related to physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy, or engineering processes. How could we expect our kids to be competitive?”
Kansas’ current science standards were developed with research and expert input from Kansas scientists and education professionals over a considerable period of time and adopted by the duly elected Kansas State Board of Education.
Shepherd-Adams said, “The House Education committee members who snuck this bill through the committee are the same ones who complain loudly about judicial overreach. What about this committee’s overreach? They’re grabbing power away from the state board of education that’s constitutionally charged with making these decisions.”
Kansas Citizens For Science is a grassroots, not-for-profit educational organization that promotes a better understanding of science by advocating for science education, educating the public about the nature and value of science and serving as an information research. KCFS has several hundred members across Kansas who are highly protective of Kansas’ hard-earned, stellar reputation in science and education.