The debate over teaching evolution in public schools is back. This time instead of focusing on Creationism the argument is over Intelligent Design. The Discovery Institute, a main proponent of Intelligent Design, state on their webpage, “The theory of Intelligent Design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.” While Intelligent Design cannot be scientifically proven, some of its proponents still insist it has a place in a scientific curriculum. “Both sides ought to be properly taught … so people can understand what the debate is about,” President Bush said at a press conference on August 1.

This comment has been widely criticized by scientists who argue that there is no scientific basis to merit its place in the classroom. Geology professor Dave Dobson said “They are trying to teach religion in schools. They wouldn’t be happy with the Hindu creation myth or the Greek creation myth. They talk about both sides which betray their viewpoints.” He also said that teaching Intelligent Design to students in high school would require them to forget it all to become a successful biologist. “Teaching Intelligent Design wouldn’t harm a smart student, but it will confuse people.”

According to a 2004 Gallup poll, 45% of Americans believe that God created human beings in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years. Only 13% said that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life and God had no part in the process. The vast majority of scientists, however, support some form of evolution.

Many feel that teaching Intelligent Design does not directly oppose evolution, because the theory doesn’t argue that evolution didn’t happen. It does suggest that some sort of greater mind was behind the process.

Philosophy professor Vance Ricks said that Intelligent Design should not be taught in a science classroom, but instead a religion or philosophy class. He also said that a problem with this debate was that “Scientists become frustrated about the misunderstanding of the word theory and opponents of Darwinism take theory to mean blind conjecture.”

When asked about the possibility of teaching Intelligent Design being taught in Guilford county schools, English Professor Nicole McFarlane, a mother of three, said, “I’m sure it’s on the horizon in the next 2-3 years. The fact that we’re talking about it shows it’s going on.”