Knoxville Father Wants Biology Book Banned
A Tennessee father says a biology textbook should be banned from his son’s curriculum because of it’s ‘bias’ against Christians.
Kurt Zimmermann is appealing a Knoxville school district’s decision to keep the book. He says the textbook used in his son’s biology class cites creationism as a “biblical myth.” According to reports, he requests, ‘non-biased’ textbooks be used. In his words, the current textbook’s phrasing misleads, belittles and discourages students in believing in creationism and calls the Bible a myth.
Knoxville County School superintendent Jim McIntyre says the committee’s finding to keep using the book is appropriate. However he asks the board to hear Zimmerman’s appeal Wednesday, April 7.
Melissa Copelan, the board’s director of public affairs tells Fox News, “when there is a concern about education materials there is a process that is followed… Now it is up to the board.”
She referred to procedure listed on the school board’s Web site. When there is a complaint about curriculum board members put together a committee- six members, including the high school’s principal, a biology teacher, a parent and a student.
Even though a few of the members thought the material was “questionable,” the committee ultimately said it’s “appropriate for an honors level biology course.”
Local papers report Zimmerman pulls a quote from page 319 in the book, Asking About Life, where creationism is described as, “the biblical myth that the universe was created by the Judeo-Christian God in 7 days.”