OC teacher's non-evolutionary theory upsets district

DATE                  2/16/91
NEWSPAPER             THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SECTION               NEWS
EDITION               EVENING
PAGE                  a01
STORY LENGTH          22 INCHES
HEADLINE              OC teacher's non-evolutionary theory upsets district
BYLINE/CREDIT         Dan Froomkin:The Orange County Register
SUBJECT TERMS         OC:CA:SCHOOLS:RELIGION:SCIENCE:PROTEST

    In John Peloza's biology class at Capistrano Valley High
  School, students sit at laboratory countertops and sometimes do
  ordinary biology-class things, such as dissecting worms.
    But when Peloza teaches them about evolution, the curriculum strays
  far from the ordinary.
    Although his school district says he should teach that evolution is
  a valid scientific theory, Peloza teaches that it is a fraud.
    Peloza says that although he tries not to mention it too often in
  class, the Bible is his ultimate guide and is at the heart of how we
  teaches.
    "We were made," he said. "I know who made us."
    After two parents wrote complaints several months ago, Capistrano
  Unified School District administrators started investigating Peloza's
  teaching methods, which he says have remained unchanged in his seven
  years at the school.
    Both sides say this could become a major test case, one that would
  address whether teachers who believe in creation rather than
  evolution will be allowed to build their case in science class.
   Capistrano Superintendent Jerome Thornsley said Peloza has been
  reprimanded and has been advised to teach according to district
  guidelines.
    At the same time, Thornsley said, the district is continuing to
  monitor Peloza, partly to build a case for a possible dismissal
  hearing.
    "It's not his right to not teach what he's employed here to teach,"
  Thornsley said.
    But Peloza, 36, said he is unrepentant. A self-described born-again
  Christian, he has vowed to "fight fire with fire," even though his
  job might be on the line.
    Peloza argues that all he is doing is teaching the truth and that
  he is fighting for academic freedom.
    But his critics, including other biology teachers, say Peloza is
  using half-truths to mislead easily manipulated youngsters, is
  teaching religion rather than science and must be stopped.
    They argue that Peloza is trying to undermine a State Board of
  Education decision last November. Over the protests of many
  fundamentalist Christian groups, the board adopted guidelines
  prohibiting the biblical story of creation -- often put forth as
  "creation science" -- in science classes.
    Individual school districts do not have to follow state guidelines,
  but most --  including the Capistrano district -- do.
    Ray Panici, also a biology teacher at Capistrano Valley, said he
  has had many extended arguments over the years with Peloza, his
  friend and colleague. Panici said Peloza is hurting his students.
    "Some of the ideas that John talks about in the evolution unit are
  ideas that really don't belong in the science classroom," Panici
  said.
    "He is out to discredit evolution theory in order to support
  creationism," said Tim Dunn, a biology teacher at nearby Dana Hills
  High School, who was asked by district officials to analyze Peloza's
  class outline.
    In a recent interview at the sprawling, hillside high school
  campus, Peloza spoke with passion about how and what he teaches.
    At the heart of his attack on evolution is his insistence that a
  theory must be testable for it to be scientifically valid. And he
  says the evolutionist story line -- from the spontaneous appearance
  of life from organic compounds to the existence of man -- has never
  been repeated and observed.
    Peloza said he teaches that "microevolution," which explains
  changes within species over time, is legitimate. But he disputes the
  concept of "macroevolution," or the evolution of higher life forms
  from lower life forms.
    Scientists who support evolution say there is a multitude of
  evidence to back the theory, but in his class, Peloza says none of it
  is conclusive.
    When Peloza switches to the alternative theory -- that life
  appeared by design -- he tells students there are two options. Either
  it was created, he says, or it was brought to earth by aliens: the
  theory of "panspermia."
    Peloza suggests that scientific evidence in fact supports the
  creation theory.
    Peloza's students read the school district's biology textbook,
  which describes evolution and the evidence for it. But instead of a
  test on that chapter, Peloza asks students to write a research paper.
  A solid argument about how fossils are not remnants of ancient life,
  but in fact were created by God in their current form, for instance,
  earns a solid grade.
    A father of two who attends Calvary Chapel in Capistrano Beach,
  Peloza said his belief in creation stems from the teachings of the
  Bible. But he said he does not use the Bible as a teaching tool. And
  he does not use the term "creation science" in class.
    When students ask him about his own beliefs, Peloza said, he tells
  them he believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible but
  stresses that the Bible is a historical document, not a scientific
  one.
    By his own reckoning, his avoidance of the most glaring creationist
  terms is what has kept him out of trouble through his seven years of
  teaching biology in Mission Viejo and four years before that teaching
  on Santa Catalina Island.
    "When I don't use the Bible, it's difficult to trap me," Peloza
  said. "Why do you think I've survived for 11 years?"
    Many of Peloza's students are full of praise for their teacher.
  "Basically, he gives us both sides," said Mark Gundlach, 17.
    "I think he's teaching it the way it should be taught," said Indi
  Trehan, 14. "Evolution is not science, because it can't be observed."
    But Panici argues that the apparent fairness of presenting both
  sides is misleading.
    Scientists "understand there aren't sides," Panici said. "We don't
  run science by democracy."
     Panici said Peloza is otherwise a good teacher. But, he said, "The
  only (evidence) he's ever shown is quoting evolutionists out of
  context arguing with each other."
   Many teachers gave Peloza credit for one thing, however: being up
  front about what he does in class.
    "I presume that every school district has the same problem, but it
  just hasn't been brought out yet," said Stan Cowan, a biology teacher
  at Garden Grove High School.
    Rather than relenting, Peloza is hunkering down for a fight. He
  said he is receiving guidance from two lawyers and the San
  Diego-based Institute for Creation Research.
   "The fact that I haven't backed off (yet) is indication that I won't
  back off," he said. "Jesus said that in this world you will have
  tribulations."