On
the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection -- Intelligent Design and US President George
Bush's Statement. (August 3, 2005)
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News & Views item - August 2005 |
On
the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection -- Intelligent Design and US President George
Bush's Statement. (August 3, 2005)
The part of the text of a roundtable interview of President Bush by reporters from Texas newspapers on August 1, 2005, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House dealing with evolution and intelligent design. The full transcript was prepared by White House officials but not released immediately.
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Taken from ScienceNow |
Q I wanted to ask you about the -- what seems to be a growing debate over evolution versus intelligent design. What are your personal views on that, and do you think both should be taught in public schools?THE PRESIDENT: I think -- as I said, harking back to my days as my governor -- both you and Herman are doing a fine job of dragging me back to the past. (Laughter.) Then, I said that, first of all, that decision should be made to local school districts, but I felt like both sides ought to be properly taught.
Q Both sides should be properly taught?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, people -- so people can understand what the debate is about.
Q So the answer accepts the validity of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought, and I'm not suggesting -- you're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes.
This past February John Marburger, the scientific advisor to the President stated that ID is "not a scientific theory." However, ScienceNow reported today, "In an interview, Marburger says that he and Bush are not at odds over whether ID should be discussed in schools. 'I think to ignore [ID] in the classroom is a mistake,' Marburger told Science, although he added that ID should not be taught 'as an alternative' to evolution."
