Like a seed fallen on hard ground, the theory of evolution has not taken hold in America’s heartland. Evolution is given only passing mention in Missouri’s state educational standards, and no mention at all in those of our neighboring states Illinois and Kansas. While scientists like me can object — I wrote five columns on the subject last year (you can read them at http://txtwriter.com)– the uncomfortable fact is that the absence of Darwin in our public schools in fact reflects the belief of many Midwesterners.

Now another powerful tool has been fashioned by Darwin’s critics. In Rochester, New York, a publicly financed charter school scheduled to open next fall has announced plans to teach the theory of creationism as an alternative to the theory of evolution.