AUSTIN -- Some say it's injecting religion into the classroom. Others argue it's a matter of academic freedom.

Whether creationism has a place in science classrooms was the subject of intense debate Wednesday at a State Board of Education meeting. The board is reviewing new curriculum guidelines for science courses in Texas schools and will vote next year on standards for textbooks.

"We're not putting religion in books; we're talking about academic freedom," said Ken Mercer, a board member from San Antonio.

Current science guidelines contain a requirement that students learn both the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories such as evolution. In September, teachers and experts working on the new guidelines recommended removing that requirement.

When the requirement reappeared in a draft of the new guidelines this week, critics of teaching creationism were alarmed and worried that it could pave the way for supernatural explanations instead of evolution in science classrooms.

"It's like arguing that there are weaknesses or alternatives to gravity or that maybe Earth doesn't really revolve around the sun after all," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, a group that supports public education and freedom of religion. "And the price for dumbing down the science curriculum will be paid by Texas kids."

But proponents of the requirement to teach strengths and weaknesses said not allowing the discussion of creationism as a theory for life would stifle and repress students. And, they argued, it was not a matter of religion but of academic freedom.

"All this hysteria has no basis in fact," said Terri Leo, a board member from the Houston area. She added that part of scientific learning should involve critical analysis of various theories.

Some University of Texas at El Paso biology
A person wearing a dinosaur suit is shown during a news conference inside the building where new science curriculum for Texas public schools was discussed Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, in Austin, Texas. It came as the State Board of Education prepared to take public testimony on new proposed standards that would encourage middle school students to discuss alternative explanations for evolution. The sign calls attention to Don McLeroy, chairman of the State Board of Education. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)
professors interviewed by phone said they worried the guidelines were intended to allow the teaching of creationism in classrooms.

"The problem comes in when the state É imposes a particular curricular mandate based on what is ultimately a religious explanation because that blurs the line between church and state," said Professor Louis Irwin.

Professor Elizabeth Walsh said classroom teaching should be based on corroborated, scientific facts.

"I am definitely opposed to the intent of opening the discussion up to larger, nonscientific arenas," she said.

But Danice Lee, who lives in far East El Paso and has three school-age children, said she didn't find creationism and evolution to be incompatible theories.

"If (evolution is) being taught as a theory, then I would teach as many as the theories as I could, including creationism, evolution all these theories," she said.