Anyone who improperly touches a child should receive strict penalties, and Sen. Leigh Herington, D-Ravenna, is introducing a bill to make sure child rapists stay in jail longer.

Under current law, a prosecutor must prove a rapist used force beyond that of the actual rape to warrant a term of life in prison. Such force can be psychological, such as showing the child suffered from intimidation, fear or duress.

These standards obviously are not stringent enough, because the penalty with force is a life sentence with chance of parole. Offenders usually are eligible for parole in 10 years, and the family of the victim often does not object. In most cases, the rapist either is related to the victim or is a friend of the family.

Without force, a rapist gets three to 10 years in jail but rarely receives the maximum sentence.

The strength of Herington’s bill is that it does not rely on additional force to strictly sentence an offender. Instead, the bill considers three criteria when determining sentences: a rapist’s previous convictions, the use or threat of physical force to the victim or the victim’s family and the use or threat to use a deadly weapon.

These factors are easier to define than just force and are crucial when deciding whether a rapist should get life in prison. The new criteria would lengthen sentences for offenders who violate defenseless children. Strong bills such as these are needed to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

 

Evolution shouldn’t be taught as fact

Ideally, schools are supposed to provide students with facts and information that have withstood the test of time. Math formulas developed thousands of years ago still hold true. But not everything has been proven as fact, and people have different theories about a variety of topics. In these instances, schools at least can allow students to discuss the various theories and validity of each.

Evolution should be regarded in the same fashion. As of yet, the theory that life on Earth developed for millions of years through natural selection is not proven scientific fact.

A 45-member team, composed mostly of science teachers at the primary, secondary and college level, proposed standards that call for students to be taught only evolution. Because scientists widely accept the theory of evolution, it has its place in Ohio’s schools.

But other theories should not be excluded from public schools. Creationism and intelligent design are theories the proposal does not mention. Both theories include the idea of a higher being, whether it be God or some other form, such as aliens, creating life.

Because of the religious implications and comparative lack of empirical evidence, these theories should not be presented to classes as alternative theories. This does not mean they should be left out of the classroom.

After talking about the origins of life, including the evolution theory, teachers should open the discussion to other viewpoints and ideas. Students then can bring up what they might have learned at home and church.

Gov. Bob Taft needs to end his silence and form an opinion on this subject to let Ohioans know his political opinion before the election. He appoints eight of the 19 State Board of Education members who eventually will make a decision about the proposal. Voters need to know Taft’s position before casting an intelligent vote.