Pennsylvania

Biology Book Squeaked By

Some of the thunder heard in Dover had nothing to do with the weather Monday evening as the Dover Area School Board approved the book, "Biology," by Prentice Hall for use in this coming school year.

Initially, the board deadlocked in a 4-4 vote. William Buckingham, Sheila Harkins, Heather Geesey and Angie Yingling voted against approving the book while Alan Bonsell, Noel Wenrich, Jeff Brown and Carol Brown voted in favor. Jane Cleaver was absent.

After that vote, Buckingham said he would approve the book if the board would also approve a "companion" book, "Pandas and People," which advocates "intelligent design theory" — the idea that the universe was created by an intelligent force rather than the product of random forces.

Jeff Brown accused the four board members voting no of blackmailing the board and holding the students hostage.

Buckingham then said if he didn't get his book, the district would not get the biology book. Buckingham has been a staunch advocate for the teaching of creationism alongside of evolution.

"If we don't get our book, you don't get yours," Buckingham said.

Superintendent Richard Nilsen asked if those voting no intended to change the curriculum, which does not call for the teaching of intelligent design.

Buckingham said the intelligent design book would "level the playing field," in reference to the state's evolution requirement. Harkins said she supported Buckingham. Geesey and Yingling made no comment.

Student representative to the board Joshua Rowand said he remembers spending 90 minutes talking about evolution. Fellow student representative Holly Crane said she didn't remember talking about it at all.

"We need a biology book," Rowand said. "Is all of this really over a few pages out of a 1,000 page book?"

As the debate raged on, Yingling raised her hand and asked if she could change her vote. A reconsideration motion was approved, and with her vote now a yes, the book passed 5-3.

After the meeting, Yingling said she couldn't say why she changed her mind.

But as Buckingham approached her, he said, "I can't believe you did that. Do you know what you've done?"

To that, Yingling replied, "I feel you were blackmailing them. I just want the kids to have their books."

During the discussion period after the first vote, Harkins said the intelligent design book had been in the hands of the faculty and administration for at least two weeks. But Nilsen said he was unaware of who had reviewed it.

After the meeting Buckingham told Yingling that he felt the faculty had all reviewed the book and would never approve it.

"If the administration does not approve a book, then it takes a two-thirds majority for the board to get it approved instead of a simple majority," he told Yingling. "That's why we needed to hold our ground tonight."

The board is still considering approving the companion book for use in the classroom. During the meeting Bonsell and Wenrich promised Buckingham that the intelligent design book would get a fair review.

"Six votes are not out of the question," Bonsell said.

The board voted to cancel its Aug. 9 meeting, so the earliest the board could vote on the book is at its Sept. 6 meeting at North Salem Elementary School.