From Jon Radford
Lawrence Krauss points out the dangers of allowing “intelligent designers” free rein to mandate the scientific curriculum in the US state education system (21 June, p 56). This is a fair point; however, his solution is worse than the cure.
He suggests that only suitably qualified individuals should sit on these boards and take these decisions. He then suggests that “school board members should not be beholden to those who have elected them, nor should they represent political constituencies. They should instead be appointed by elected officials following thorough vetting and peer review”, a system that would ensure, in short order, that only those candidates who subscribe wholeheartedly to the prevailing orthodoxy are appointed. Too bad if the prevailing orthodoxy is intelligent design.
I agree that “intelligent designers” are wrong-headed, but so is suppressing dissent, which would be the result if his method of appointing school board members were adopted. Perhaps he would like to come up with a solution that would ensure that a latter day Darwin gets a look-in, please.
Warlingham, Surrey, UK
