Some Kan. Board Members Skipped Readings

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 12:08 p.m. ET

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- As a State Board of Education subcommittee heard more testimony Friday on how evolution should be taught in Kansas classrooms, one member acknowledged that she hadn't read all of an evolution-friendly draft of science standards proposed by educators.

Kathy Martin of Clay Center made the comment while attempting to reassure a witness who said he hadn't read the entire proposal, just parts of it. Russell Carlson, a biochemistry and molecular biology professor at the University of Georgia, said he had reviewed an alternate proposal from intelligent design advocates.

''I've not read it word for word myself,'' Martin said of the other proposal, eliciting groans of disbelief from a few members of the audience.

The board expects to consider changes in June in how Kansas students are tested statewide on science. The three-member subcommittee began hearings Thursday, and will hear more testimony Saturday and again next Thursday.