Some Groups to Boycott Kan. Hearings on Evolution

As yet another drama unfolds over the teaching of evolution in Kansas, highlighted this time by a series of upcoming public hearings on the topic, several groups from the mainstream scientific community say they will not participate.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science, along with a number of Kansas advocacy organizations, will skip the hearings out of what they say is concern that the sessions will distort the nature of Charles Darwin’s theory—and the study of science itself.

In an April 11 letter, Alan I. Leshner, the chief executive officer of the AAAS, an international organization with headquarters in Washington, declined an invitation from the Kansas education department to take part or provide speakers. The hearings, scheduled for May 5-7, in Topeka, and possibly May 12-14, could mislead the public into thinking that “scientific conclusions are based on expert opinion, rather than...