Students, parents find theory lacking

DATE                  2/16/91
NEWSPAPER             THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SECTION               NEWS
EDITION               EVENING
PAGE                  a28
STORY LENGTH          6 INCHES
HEADLINE              Students, parents find theory lacking
BYLINE/CREDIT         Dan Froomkin:The Orange County Register
SUBJECT TERMS         OC:SCIENCE:EDUCATION:RELIGION:BIOLOGY:FACULTY:INVESTIGATI
                         ONS
 
  Complaints by two parents sparked the investigation of and
  disciplinary actions against teacher John Peloza.
     But students and parents at Capistrano Valley High School
  interviewed recently appeared to overwhelmingly support his teaching
  that the theory of evolution is a scientific fraud.
     "We appreciate the way that he teaches," said Diane Graves, whose
  son is in Peloza's biology class. "I think he's teaching the way the
  majority of the parents believe."
     Parent Pat Spence said she thinks schools have gotten carried away
  with teaching only secular thought.
     "I was more offended to learn that the school was teaching
  evolution than I am to hear that they're mixing in creationism with
  their evolution."
     But Marla Entwistle said she thinks many of her fellow parents
  agree with her that Peloza should be teaching evolution.
      "I feel they should be learning what I think is the scientific
  approach to evolution," she said.    The school district would not
  release the names of the two parents who complained.
     Most students approached by a reporter also said they support
  Peloza.
     Erin Murphy, 14, said, "I am totally against evolution."
     "I bet if you asked everyone in the school how many people believe
  in evolution, I bet there would be hardly any," said Dawit Baker, 15,
  who took Peloza's class last year.
     Not all students agreed. Duncan McAlester, 16, said Peloza should
  stick to evolution because creationism "is history more than
  science."
     Just because a lot of people believe it, doesn't mean it's right,
  however, said Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Jerry
  Thornsley.
     "Obviously, there's a significant percentage of people in America
  who want prayers to be said in the public schools, and they want
  creation to be taught as fact," Thornsley said. "But that's not where
  California is."