Georgia County tempers evolution changes in classrooms. (Around The States).

The Cobb County School District issued guidelines to its teachers in early January advising them to adhere to state standards on teaching science in their classroom.

The new guidelines advise teachers "to promote a sense of scientific inquiry and understanding of scientific methods, and to distinguish between scientific and philosophical or religious issues," the Associated Press reported on Jan. 9.

The action came only months after the local school board voted to allow science teachers to discuss "disputed views" of evolution.

According to the AP, some Cobb County parents were disappointed in the guidelines because they had hoped the school board's proposal would open the science classroom to discussion of creationism.

"I'd like teachers to be encouraged to open discussions," Marjorie Rogers said. "I want it to be opened up so kids can be introduced to other scientific evidence that would disprove evolution."

The American Civil Liberties Union had threatened a lawsuit challenging the school board's policy, but announced it would not lodge a suit after seeing the guidelines issued by the school district's superintendent.