Copyright 2004 Associated Press 
All Rights ReservedThe Associated Press State & Local WireThese materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The Associated PressDecember 16, 2004, Thursday, BC cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
HEADLINE: Eastern Shore news in brief
DATELINE: ELKTON, Md.

Cecil County Schools Superintendent Carl Roberts has withdrawn his recommendation for a 10th-grade biology book after a school board member complained he saw no reference to creationism in the text.

Roberts postponed a vote on the book, which teaches evolution, until board members have a chance to read it. The book has cleared the district's standard process of textbook approval, winning the approval of 95 percent of the district's Textbook Review Council - a committee 50 parents, teachers and administrators.

Creationism, or the belief that mankind was created by God, is not mentioned in the current biology text and it is not mentioned in the new book up for approval, said Richard Lonie, the district's instructional coordinator for science.

"It's not mentioned at all," he said. "We teach what the state is asking us to teach. We're trying to teach science, not faith."

Two district board members said they would not feel comfortable voting on the book without reading it.

[other stories deleted - JAW]

LOAD-DATE: December 17, 2004