Changes

*''regardless of whether or not the Apollo astronauts actually landed on the Moon,'' it is a fact that a large number of people—about 6% of the U. S. population, according to one poll—believe that the landing was a hoax or deception and that it never occurred.

*''regardless of whether or not the Apollo astronauts actually landed on the Moon,'' it is a fact that a large number of people—about 6% of the U. S. population, according to one poll—believe that the landing was a hoax or deception and that it never occurred.

Now, with regard to the theory of evolution, there are a number of facts that we should be able to agree on, ''regardless of whether or not we agree with the theory of evolution.''

Now, with regard to the theory of evolution, there are a number of facts that we should be able to agree on, ''regardless of whether or not we agree with the theory of evolution.'' One of them is a fact about opinion: just as most scientists once believed in the phlogiston theory, most doctors once believed in bleeding as a treatment for illness, and most Americans now believe that the Apollo astronauts really landed on the moon... the theory of evolution ''is the mainstream opinion'' of scientists today.

*It is a fact that the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences can be taken to represent "mainstream scientific opinion" in the United States. It is a fact that the AAAS issued [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2002/1106id2.shtml a 2002 statement] opining that "The contemporary theory of biological evolution is one of the most robust products of scientific inquiry.... To become informed and responsible citizens in our contemporary technological world, students need to study the theories and empirical evidence central to current scientific understanding.... the lack of scientific warrant for so-called "intelligent design theory" makes it improper to include as a part of science education." In brief, evolution is the "mainstream" opinion.

 

*It is a fact that the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences can be taken to represent "mainstream scientific opinion" in the United States. It is a fact that the AAAS issued [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2002/1106id2.shtml a 2002 statement] opining that "The contemporary theory of biological evolution is one of the most robust products of scientific inquiry.... To become informed and responsible citizens in our contemporary technological world, students need to study the theories and empirical evidence central to current scientific understanding.... the lack of scientific warrant for so-called "intelligent design theory" makes it improper to include as a part of science education."

*It is a fact that about 15% of the questions in the SAT II Biology test are on evolution and diversity, and the "correct" answers reflect the contemporary theory of evolution.  

*It is a fact that about 15% of the questions in the SAT II Biology test are on evolution and diversity, and the "correct" answers reflect the contemporary theory of evolution.  

*It is a fact that the New Jersey [http://www.nj.gov/njded/aps/cccs/science/frameworks/horizontal.doc core curriculum standards], on which the HSPA tests are based, assumes a knowledge of the contemporary theory of evolution. It imposes specific goals: by grade 12, students are expected to "Explain that through evolution the Earth's present species developed from earlier distinctly different species" and "Explain how the theory of natural selection accounts for extinction as well as an increase in the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics within a species."

*It is a fact that the New Jersey [http://www.nj.gov/njded/aps/cccs/science/frameworks/horizontal.doc core curriculum standards], on which the HSPA tests are based, assumes a knowledge of the contemporary theory of evolution. It imposes specific goals: by grade 12, students are expected to "Explain that through evolution the Earth's present species developed from earlier distinctly different species" and "Explain how the theory of natural selection accounts for extinction as well as an increase in the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics within a species."