By Leo Shane III
Gannett Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Criticisms of evolution backed by religious groups will remain in the state's model curriculum for high school science classes, the state Board of Education decided Tuesday.

The board, by a 13-4 vote, gave preliminary approval to the science model lesson plan, which includes suggestions on how to handle the subject in Ohio classrooms. It has a chapter titled "Critical analysis of evolution" that recommends 10th-graders debate several common critiques of the theory.

Supporters of the curriculum insist that, as written, the model has nothing to do with intelligent design - the belief that a higher power played a role in the creation of all life.

But opponents said the examples and arguments included - things like missing links in the fossil record - bear all the marks of intelligent design teachings, and accused board members of sneaking it into Ohio schools. Several Web sites listed in the model also reference pro-intelligent design groups.

"There is a clear paper trail here to intelligent design," said Patricia Princehouse, an evolutionary biology lecturer at Case Western Reserve University. "It's a disservice to the kids learning evolution.

"This opens up the reputation of Ohio scientists to ridicule, both internationally and nationally. It's a sad day for science in Ohio."

Proponents of intelligent design pushed to have it included in the state's science guidelines in 2002, but compromised on language that required students to "investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory."

James Turner, a governor-appointed board member from Cincinnati, said the controversial chapter simply fulfills that analysis requirement.

"I reject the notion that these lessons advance the idea of intelligent design," he said. "There has been a lot of hyperbole about what we have done. They ignore that these are probably the most pro-evolution standards in the country."

Others on the board weren't convinced.

"I support the science standards, but I simply cannot be sure this isn't an introduction to intelligent design," said board member Robin Hovis, an elected member from Millersburg.

On Monday references to Jonathan Wells' book, Icons of Evolution, were deleted from the model's bibliography after complaints about the authors' pro-intelligent design views were raised.

While opponents on Tuesday pushed for further scaling back the chapter, several supporters asked the board to expand the critical thinking lessons.

"The best way to handle disagreements in the classroom is to teach both sides of the issue," said Robert Lattimer, a chemist at Noveon Inc. who helped write the 2002 science standards. "In my view, too much material has been removed from this lesson."

Members of the National Science Foundation and the Ohio Academy of Science opposed Tuesday's approval. Last week board member Sam Schloemer, who represents Hamilton County, called for standards committee chairman Michael Cochran to resign for what he said was ignoring the scientific community in drafting the model.

After the vote he called for Gov. Bob Taft to use his influence to move the board members away from the "faulty curriculum."

"The governor has been mum on this for two years," he said. "He has got to take a position on this ... and get it out of our education."

Orest Holubec, spokesman for Taft, said the governor has no current plans to intervene in the process. All eight of his appointed members voted in favor of the model curriculum.

"He has faith that the school board members will implement the curriculum based on the standards," Holubec said.

Final approval of the model curriculum will be voted on next month.