PHOENIX - A link to an online survey is broken on the last day the public can provide feedback on an Arizona proposal to roll back teaching evolution.
The Department of Education gave the public until May 28 to weigh in on the proposed update to Arizona's science curriculum standards that omits and waters down references to evolution. The webpage to receive feedback, however, is returning a blank page with the words "Service Unavailable" at the top.
We reached out to Superintendent Diane Douglas' office, a spokesperson said:
I know the Superintendent intends to speak with the Standards department about the possibility of extending the public comment window due to the technical difficulties.
Standards may already have a definitive understanding of where the public stands based on the comments already submitted, so extending the window may not be necessary.
Earlier this month, we reported the department made revisions to a draft of updated science standards that crossed out the words "evolution" and "evolve." The draft was prepared by Arizona teachers who were shocked by the Department of Education's corrections.
School Superintendent Diane Douglas is seemingly behind the rewrite. In a forum last November, she said she supports the teaching of intelligent design, which is a rebranded form of creationism, the religious belief in the existence of a creator.
READ: In Arizona, teaching creationism is supported by 4 of 5 Republicans who want to oversee education
Gov. Doug Ducey said Monday that he believes evolution should remain in the science curriculum and that creationism should not be required teaching.
“Evolution is part of the curriculum and will remain part of the curriculum," he said, adding, "I believe in God. I believe God created humanity. And I believe there are evolutionary forces in nature. And I don’t think they are mutually exclusive.”
The governor did, however, say schools could introduce creationism as literature rather than science.
The public's feedback is time-sensitive. The proposed standards can be approved by the Arizona Board of Education as soon as June.
Even if you can't share your feedback with the Department of Education, you can share it with us by emailing connect@12news.com.