East Porter approves biology textbook


On April 25, 2005, the board of the East Porter County (Indiana) School Corporation voted 6-1 to adopt science textbooks recommended by a district committee. Several board members had previously raised questions about the proposed biology texts because they contained material about evolution, but not about creationism or other "alternative theories," and a decision on the textbooks was delayed to allow board members time to inspect the proposed texts. According to a report in the April 15 Merrillville Post-Tribune:

Board member Tim Bucher said he wished the books were more balanced and mentioned there were other theories besides evolution. "I believe it's a theory of evolution, not a fact of evolution." Bucher, who described himself as a fundamentalist Christian who believes the Bible literally, said he hasn't seen the recommended texts from Prentice Hall and Holt yet. "I'm trying to be a realist along with my Christian faith. At least let the kids know about it," he said of creationism.
According to the April 26 issue of The Times of Munster, Indiana, "Bucher said he would approve the text for lack of a better option. None of the other books include theories other than of evolution. Bucher vowed to continue to do his own research to find a way to include other theories."