To the editor:

Now that the state Board of Education has approved new Kansas-centric history and economics curriculum standards, I have a suggested lesson plan.

Students should study the misguided move in 2001 to enfeeble the science-education standards by “de-emphasizing” the teaching of evolution — and the subsequent return to real science standards. There’s a good historical lesson there: Knowledge always eventually trumps ignorance. There’s a good economics lesson there: The biotechnology and bioscience businesses that will drive the U.S. economy in the 21st century won’t locate in or hire employees from states with backward schools. And there’s a good pride-of-Kansas lesson there: Sometimes it’s hard to be proud of Kansas.

Bradley Kemp,

Lawrence