The Falcon   |   Volume 81, Issue 26

Published 6/02/10   |   Log In

Origins of life film to premiere at SPU

SPU alum, featured in film, to attend premiere in Gwinn

By JADE NIRVANA INGMIRE, Assistant News Editor

Published: May 8, 2002

Imagine being in a profession for 23 years, specializing in a field of that profession for 14 years, and then receiving a letter in the mail saying you have been re-assigned to a new field in which you have no experience, for seemingly no apparent reason.

Such was the case for SPU alumnus and former biology teacher Roger DeHart. His story and other hot topics of scientific debate will be featured in Friday's official premiere of the documentary "Icons of Evolution," at 7:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn.

This event, which is being sponsored by the Political Science Department, the Political Union Club and the Discovery Institute takes its title from a novel by the same name, written by local author and microbiologist Jonathan Wells. According to Wells, the phrase "Icons of Evolution" refers to the traditional symbols and illustrations used in textbooks regarding evolution, which he believes serve to perpetuate a cycle of misinformation about the conclusive evidence of evolution.

According to an article written by Wells in the American Spectator, "for too long the debate about evolution has assumed 'facts' that aren't true. It's time to clear away the lies that obstruct popular discussion of evolution, and insist that theories conform to the evidence. In other words, it's time to do science the way it's supposed to be done."

The film narrates the story of Dehart, a biology teacher at Burien High School, who was penalized by his school district for teaching biological evidence against evolution and telling students about scientists who were skeptical of Darwin's theory.

"I was more than threatened," DeHart said. "I was re-assigned to earth science after teaching biology [for 23 years]."

After being reassigned at Burien, he left to teach biology at Marysville-Pilchuck. He taught biology there for one semester and was re-assigned to earth science after the story of his controversial teaching at Burien broke in the newspaper.

DeHart recounts how his decision to teach intelligent design, the biological notion that life was created deliberately by a Creator, and not by random mutation and natural selection, as taught in the Darwinian theory, caused a disturbance within the administration.

DeHart's lecture at Burien High School on intelligent design was a one-day lecture out of a two week section on evolution. However, the school board still asked him not to teach alternative views to evolution on the grounds that it was "not part of the adopted curriculum, and because the arguments against evolution are too complex for students to understand."

DeHart adhered to this regulation on the part of the school board and did not teach the idea of intelligent design, although DeHart maintains, "I don't believe intelligent design is religion."

DeHart describes himself as "a modern-day John Scopes in reverse." Like Scopes, his controversial scientific view on origins of life eventually cost him his job, although DeHart is on the other side of the debate.

The event that led to DeHart's re-assignment and eventually his resignation from Burien "stemmed from the desire to introduce articles from mainstream academic journals." According to DeHart, these journals were controversial because they conclusively disprove some of the main evidences for evolution.

DeHart does not believe his personal views should prevent him from presenting both sides of a debate in the classroom.

"Because I am a doubter of Darwinian evolution, somehow I don't have the right to bring these articles into class," DeHart said.

"Science is supposed to look at all the evidence," DeHart said. "If you cease to look at evidence because it contradicts a theory, it [is] no longer science. It becomes philosophy or ideology."

DeHart's re-assignment was triggered by a student complaint to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that DeHart was teaching religion in the classroom.

Despite this student's complaint, DeHart describes himself as a very popular teacher. He said "an overwhelming majority" of students disagreed with his re-assignment. This fact was accentuated by a petition signed by 173 students, all supporting DeHart's curriculum.

DeHart said, "I know of no other topic in science in which you cannot present evidence that damages a theory ... . Evolution has become so [sacred] that you cannot even question it."

"Students need to be taught a controversy," DeHart added. "That's how they learn best."

DeHart attributes this sacredness to the fact that evolution has become so accepted, it is considered unacademic not to believe it.

According to DeHart, his in-class presentation of Darwinian criticism was "the sole factor in my re-assignment. I was a highly regarded teacher. I was rated in the top 10 percent of teachers by my administrator."

DeHart was replaced by a first-year teacher with a degree in Physical Education.

"I've never known a teacher to be re-assigned to a field outside of your degree, to teach another field of science, involuntarily."

DeHart will not be teaching at Marysville-Pilchuck High School next year but hopes to stay in the teaching field. Although his future is unsure, he believes that "this whole experience has made me a better person." DeHart, a husband and father of two children, said, "my family benefited from seeing that there are some things worth standing up for."

Dehart was profiled in The Los Angeles Times last year, and his story was also covered by CNN news. The video incorporates viewpoints from national experts on both sides of the origins of life debate.

"Icons of Evolution" discusses current developments in the public policy controversy over how to teach evolution in public schools, while presenting an overview of the common errors that are still present in most biology textbooks today, as well as the legal feuds over science curriculums in public schools, according to Dr. John West, chairmen of the department of political science and geography

"While the documentary supports a 'teach the controversy' approach over evolution, it features interviews with scientists on both sides of the issue. The screening at SPU will be the official national premiere of the video, although there have been some small private screenings elsewhere," West said.

The point of DeHart's story, and also of the documentary, is to determine whether or not Darwinian criticism should be taught in the classroom.

West said the reason the film's producers chose to incorporate DeHart's story was that "a video needs to have a narrative structure ... we settled on telling DeHart's story because it made the issue understandable ... and brought internal drama to the script."

West was solicited by the film's producer Jim Fitzgerald to edit the film's script, and is also featured in the video, along with about 15 other interviews with experts discussing the evolution debate.

According to West, the issue of what scientific views are appropriate teaching material will become increasingly relevant to classrooms across America because of the "No Child Left Behind" Act passed in Congress last year. According to the act, every student will be required to take a scientific proficiency test at some point during their education.

West adds that this is not just an issue that scientists should care about. "What is taught in classrooms is not just an issue for scientists, but also for parents who pay taxes to public schools."

West will be present at the event, as will Wells and Dehart, to facilitate a post-film discussion.

West became involved with this production because of personal interest and conviction.

"I am interested in how political Darwinism influences public policy," West said. "It's bad science education not to allow DeHart to correct textbooks or expose students to another point of view."

This independent film, which was produced by ColdWater Media in Colorado, is going to try and distribute the film in several ways, West said. "Focus on the Family will be marketing it in a few weeks, publicizing it over the radio ... . ... attempts are being made to market it to TV stations [as well]."

West said he is excited about the film because "as a scholar, I like being able to bring [a topic which I consider important] before a large audience."

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