Teach the theory of gravity? Well, maybe sometimes

The head of the Kansas Education Board, in rebuffing a plea by Nobel laureates not to undercut the teaching of evolution by placing intelligent design beside it in the classroom, basically said that — gasp — the public school classroom has no absolutes. Shocking! Does this social conservative actually realize the import of what he is saying? Probably not, but let’s line it out.

Education Board Chairman Steve Abrams, a conservative Republican who has supported the proposed standards, said he was unmoved by the scientists’ plea, which became public Thursday.

“I don’t think anything should be taught as dogma,” Abrams told the Lawrence Journal-World.

Nothing? That theory of gravity? Does that mean we should teach that the apple on the ground might someday jump into the air?

That’s to say nothing of moral issues. Should we not always teach that America is a Christian nation? Should we not always teach that unbridled capitalism is good? Should we not always teach that abstinence before marriage is the only good means of protection against STDs? Pat Robertson, after your hitmen visit Hugo Chavez, you now know where their next stop should be.