POLL RELEASES February 14, 2001
Public Favorable to Creationism But prefers it be taught along with evolution
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Kansas Board of Education members are debating whether to reverse a two-year-old policy that places less emphasis on the teaching of evolution in school science classes. In 1999, by a 6-4 margin, the board voted to change the state's science education standards to place more emphasis on creationism, the biblical theory that God created the earth and man in seven days. However, two board members who supported that policy change failed to win re-election last November, and were replaced by candidates who support the teaching of evolution.
The American public favors teaching creationism in schools along with evolution (68% favor and 29% oppose), but is opposed to the idea of teaching creationism instead of evolution, by a 55% to 40% margin. Further, Gallup polls conducted last year suggest that a quarter of Americans believe teaching creationism should be required of the public schools, while another 56% say creationism should at least be offered to students as a subject of study.
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