Critics claim textbook adopted by board presents evolution as fact
By Darleen Principe  darleenp@theacorn.com

After extensive review and consideration, the Ventura County Board of Education voted 3-1 to adopt a seventh-grade-level science textbook that critics say portrays the theory of evolution as fact and contains other questionable content.

Area 4 trustee Dean Kunicki, representing Simi Valley, Moorpark and the Santa Susana Knolls, was absent from the meeting.

Of the four trustees who were present, only Ron Matthews, who originally expressed concern about Pearson Prentice Hall's "Focus on California Life Science" during a board meeting in February, remained opposed to the textbook in the final vote.

Despite his opposition to the book, Matthews nevertheless recommended it to the board.

"Out of the other textbooks that we did review, this was the least onerous," said Matthews, who represents Oxnard and El Rio. Matthews said he'd reviewed a total of seven available state-approved texts since the board's well-publicized February meeting on the subject.

The action came four months after the original motion to approve the text was tabled because of a written objection made by San Fernando Valley resident Carl Olson, whose daughter is a student at Simi Valley High School. In February, Olson claimed that the book was inaccurate, causing the board to delay its decision.

"The publisher, Prentice Hall, has a reputation for mistakes," Olson said at last week's meeting. He and several other members of the community engaged in public comment before the board moved to vote.

"I've studied every scientific journal, and there's no proof of evolution anywhere," said Ed Rockland of Thousand Oaks. "In order to be scientific, it must be testable, supportable and disprovable."

While most of the public comment was geared toward challenging the alleged inadequacies of the book, John Gentry, a retired teacher from Ventura, said he had no objection to the text but wanted to see the other side in the debate over human existence included.

"Let it be there, but put in the other side too," Gentry said. "Are we trying to educate students on this subject or inculcate them?"

Gentry's comment was in keeping with a Discovery Institute video presentation that followed public comment.

The video, which described the potential problems of Darwinism and detailed fossil evidence, also addressed whether or not high school students have the ability to critically analyze controversial subjects such as evolution in the educational forum.

"It's amazing what schools keep from students," said trustee Chris Valenzano, who motioned to adopt the book under the condition that the board communicate with state officials to improve science education.

When Valenzano's first motion died for lack of a second, Marty Bates, county school board president, emphasized the board's need to make a final decision on the matter.

The trustees considered several options, including supplementing the text, offering online resources, providing further training for faculty or refusing to adopt the book altogether.

Valenzano argued it was important to adopt the book despite its take on evolution in order to remain in compliance with state law. The adoption would also prevent the board from putting students at a disadvantage by withholding information they would potentially need for standardized tests, he said.

To be compliant with state law, as directed by Williams v. State of California, the county board is responsible for adopting an updated textbook within 24 months of state approval, said Sandra Shackelford, associate superintendent of educational services.

According to Larry Dunn of the California Board of Education, "Focus on California Life Science," copyright 2008, was approved by the state in November 2006 and will remain on the state-approved curriculum at least until 2012.

Before taking a second vote, Bates appointed trustee Mary Louise Peterson to a committee that would seek assistance from both the California county boards of education and the California state board of education in expanding the science curriculum.

After assuring the public that adoption of the textbook would not deter the board from moving forward with addressing the state, Valenzano renewed his motion, which was seconded by Bates. The trustee asked that communicating with Sacramento regarding this issue be put on a future agenda item.