Viewpoint: In response to Conservative critics, Iowa is dumbing down school curriculum science standards

Iowa’s current draft of its K-12 science standards, which include changing the word “evolution” to “biological change over time” drew ire from some parents, educators, students and residents across the state at a public forum held at the Grimes State Office Building in Des Moines on Jan. 23.

Residents say the current drafts downplay human impacts on climate change and water down scientific concepts by changing terms like “evolution” to “biological change over time” and “climate change” to “climate trends.”

“I guess my concern then is that I don’t want to live in a state where the legislators are afraid of science words, because that’s really what this comes down to,” [Jerrid] Kruse said.

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[Heather] Doe said Iowa’s standards outline what students should be learning at each grade level but “do not prescribe or mandate a particular curriculum.” The director said it’s up to the school districts to choose their own curriculum and textbooks.

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