Leece continues the intelligent design crusade

Deirdre Newman

One trustee is continuing her quest to have the district consider

scientific alternatives to evolution.

On Tuesday, Wendy Leece withheld her stamp of approval from a science

textbook called “Life: The Science of Biology.” Although the board

ultimately approved the book for use in Advanced Placement Biology, the

issue will be discussed further during an April 30 study session.

Leece took issue with the textbook because it does not include

information about intelligent design, which she describes as a movement

that questions Darwinian evolution with research in biochemistry.

Leece says the debate is important because it’s a matter of academic

freedom.

“The scientists who don’t agree with intelligent design want to keep

saying this is an issue of religion. They can say that all they want, but

as long as we stick to science, then we can teach it,” Leece said.

Leece had prepared a presentation on intelligent design to give to her

colleagues Tuesday, but was asked to wait until April so the district

science committee could provide its input as well.

The textbook does discuss creation science, which it does not consider

part of science. Leece says creation science is a small sub-aspect of

intelligent design.

“You can still teach intelligent design for secular reasons, which the

constitution allows us to do,” Leece said.

Leece would like a board subcommittee to address the issue from a

scientific base and make recommendations to district science teachers on

how to teach it.

The state is also considering the issue as part of its efforts to

adopt a new science framework and Leece says even state education

officials are having trouble deciding how to allow discussion of this

topic.

School Board President Judy Franco said she believes the issue needs

to be discussed but the end result will probably be based on the state’s

final decision.

It’s not the first time Leece has voted against the use of books or

asked that a book be removed.

Last year Leece asked that four textbooks be pulled from the school

list, two of which were award winning novels. She requested that the

novels “Of Love and Shadows,” by South American author Isabel Allende,

and “Snow Falling on Cedars,” by David Guterson, be pulled from the high

school textbook list due to “graphic sexual content.”

All four of the books were eventually approved by the board.

Before she was elected to the board, Leece in 1993 led a group of

parents in efforts to get adult magazines put behind blinders. The Costa

Mesa City Council eventually passed an ordinance that required such

magazines to be covered.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .