UPDATE: After some critical reviews, I changed the title to better reflect what the UC System is trying to convey. They may not accept applicants that have not had, in the view of their standards, acceptable preparation - in this case, science education.
The University of California System
could be the first to reject students coming out of high schools that put Intelligent Design into their "Science Curriculm". All I can say is - Hallelujah!!! This is probably going to be the only thing that will destroy the whole ID movement. The moment that moderate parents start to realize that ID could cost little Timmy or Susie a chance to go to college, ID will die quickly.
The case will pit the Association of Christian Schools International, which claims 4,000 member schools including Calvary Chapel and 800 other schools in California, against the biggest system of public universities in the world.
Of course, the religious zealots are
claiming that the UC system is "violate the freedom of speech of Christian schools, students and teachers". The UC System is claiming that they are upholding standards. (Remember standards?)
In a small room at the University of California's headquarters in downtown Oakland, UC counsel Christopher Patti sat beside a stack of textbooks proposed for use by Calvary Chapel Christian School in Riverside County -- books UC rejected as failing to meet freshmen admission requirements.
Biology and physics textbooks from Christian publishers were found wanting, as were three Calvary humanities courses.
"The university is not telling these schools what they can and can't teach," Patti said. "What the university is doing is simply establishing what is and is not its entrance requirements. It's really a case of the university's ability to set its own admission standards. The university has no quarrel with Christian schools."
"Wanting" is putting it mildly. In the opening on "
Biology for Christian Schools", which is published by
Bob Jones University Press(
remember them!), it states -
"The people who have prepared this book have tried consistently to put the Word of God first and science second. To the best of the author's knowledge, the conclusions drawn from observable facts that are presented in this book agree with the Scriptures. If a mistake has been made (which is probable since this book was prepared by humans) and at any point God's Word is not put first, the author apologises."
This is a Science Book? Or
there is this book from Beka Books -
..."Biology: God's Living Creation," is described by the publisher as "Thoroughly Christian in perspective and tone. Truly nonevolutionary in philosophy, spirit, and sequence of study." A section about the skeleton talks about God designing the bones of the upper extremities for strength and dexterity.
Again this is Science?
I have to support the University on this. There needs to be a standards upheld for students entering college. The must be able to know and do certain things. The UC system is one of the top university systems in the world, they are respected around the world. If they want to remain on top, the need to have standards. If these religious zealots what a university or college that is truier to their belief system then there is Bob Jones or Oral Roberts.
Remember, these are private schools. If they wanted a private education for primary education, then they can go get a private secondary education. School Choice??