Two recent actions have thrust the debate over evolution and intelligent design back into the national consciousness.

On Tuesday, the Kansas Board of Education passed a measure that casts doubt on the validity of evolution. In a 6-4 vote, all public school students will now be taught to understand basic evolutionary concepts while also being taught to challenge Darwinian Theory.

Additionally, the board rewrote the definition of science. You probably didn’t know that an elected board could do that, but apparently they can.

Science, as it’s known in Kansas, is “no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena.”This is a giant step backwards for science.

Intelligent design is reliant on the existence of some higher being.

Science is not based on faith in a supreme being, but rather on observations that are formed into plausible theories.

Granted, evolution is “just a theory,” but so is gravity. But you won’t find Ed Board jumping off the roof of Hughes-Trigg Student Center in the hopes that this particular theory has a faith-based alternative.

Supporters of intelligent design say that it is only fair that both sides of an issue are presented in class.

If there was a more substantive argument for intelligent design, then the scientific community would likely be more receptive to it as a competitive theory comparable to evolution- but it isn’t.

Something tells Ed Board that they would not be as supportive if the tables were turned and evolutionary supporters demanded equal time at a pulpit or Sunday school class.

Science class is science class because every thing taught has been well researched and tested to the point where scientists are confident teaching the material.

So that is why Ed Board was pleased to see that voters in Dover, Pa. booted eight of the nine school board members that pushed through a policy that required a disclaimer to be read before students could learn about evolution in science classes.

Ironically, news reports out of the town quoted parents saying they were church-going and had a strong belief in God. But, they still didn’t think that belief belonged in the school curriculum.

And that is the ultimate battle.

Intelligent design mixes church and state in the way the founding fathers never intended.

Hopefully, science can remain in the classroom and faith can remain something separate.