10:36 PM CST on Thursday, December 15, 2005

By Dave Fehling / 11 News

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HOUSTON -- Texas public schools aren't supposed to teach it. But are some students in science classes hearing a lesson in religion?

KHOU-TV

Intelligent design is the theory that evolution alone can't explain how we came to be -- that a higher force must have helped design us.

Creationism in the classroom is a nationwide controversy that may be coming soon to a school near you.

"I'm always fearful," said HISD science teacher Debbie Cobb.

When asked if she could be fired for talking about those things, Cobb responded, "Yes, yes I do think I could be fired."

Debbie Cobb is a science teacher at an HISD high school just north of downtown.

She said she could get fired if she teaches science the way she would like to.

"Here we are over in Iraq, fighting to export, what, democracy? So that we can talk about whatever we need to talk about. And in the classroom we're not allowed to bring up intelligent design?"

Intelligent design is the theory that evolution alone can't explain how we came to be -- that a higher force must have helped design us.

It's a hot issue here and elsewhere.

In Kansas last month, the state board of education voted to teach doubts about evolution.

But at the same time, in a town in Pennsylvania voters ousted local school board members who tried to do the same thing there.

What about Texas?

Officially the state's science curriculum for public schools does not recognize intelligent design, only the theory of evolution, which leaves science teachers like Debbie Cobb in a tough spot.

"Our kids can come in believing in intelligent design and I can't even mention it," Cobb said.

So how does she handle it?

"I'm very careful how I put things," she said. "I don't say, 'alright guys, God created the universe.' I don't say that because I'm teaching science. I personally believe that. What's that got to do with what I'm teaching?"

Several other teachers and education consultants who spoke with 11 News said intelligent design is already being taught by any number of Texas public school teachers, despite the official state curriculum. And some believe that curriculum itself could soon be challenged.

"I think you'll see a lot of these candidates talking about the issue," said Kathy Miller.

Kathy Miller with the liberal watchdog group Texas Freedom Network said Christian conservatives are using intelligent design to get religion into public schools.

"So they've turned to more political bodies like school boards and the state boards, state board of education of education here in Texas, to push intelligent design, which is truly creationism in a lab coat."

Miller points to a state school board member from the Woodlands, defeated last year after conservative groups said she wasn't a supporter of intelligent design.

Another Woodlands resident replaced her, Barbara Cargill, who said students should be allowed to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of evolution.

State lawmaker Scott Hochberg, a democrat from Houston, serves on the House Public Education Committee.

"And you don't think intelligent design belongs in those science courses?" 11 News' Dave Fehling asked Hochberg.

"Intelligent design is faith," he responded. "Faith is very important, but faith isn't part of science. And we really need to emphasize the science and the learning of science."

Cobb said, "Kids are interested in the big questions."

"They want to know who we got here?" Fehling asked.

"Yes they do," she said.

But it's the adults who disagree over how best to explain it.