Conservatives Ascendant in Charles Schools

The teachers union cites a "brainstorming'' list made public by the board last fall that suggested eliminating science books that are "biased toward evolution," teaching "abstinence-only and a pro-life approach" in health classes, offering students time for character and spiritual growth and inviting the Gideons to offer Bibles to students.

The list caused a public outcry. Board members tried to calm critics by saying that any idea would have to go through a lengthy review before becoming policy.

Concerns have resurfaced this fall amid board discussions on temporary private-school vouchers and the promotion of "other forms of education,'' such as home-schooling, as options for relieving increasingly crowded schools.

Debates over such issues have become increasingly common across the nation, as religious groups have backed candidates to serve on local school boards, according to Joe Conn, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The group is challenging in federal court the Dover, Pa., school system's effort to teach intelligent design and monitoring the Odessa, Tex., school board's decision to adopt a Bible curriculum.

John F. Warren, a Waldorf pastor who hosts forums for candidates and keeps track of the school board's work, said the teachers union in Charles has taken suggestions out of context.

"Why is it that it's all right for the liberal viewpoint to expound the Darwinian theory of evolution, which is just a theory, but it's not all right to have the conservative viewpoint of creationism?" said Warren, of the Calvary Gospel Church. "I think it's impossible to elect anybody whose philosophical, political and religious views would not come into play with their leadership."

The change in leadership came in January when Young, a nurse, was elected chairwoman with the support of Bailey, Crawford and newcomer Jennifer S. Abell, who was appointed last year to fill a vacancy and is now the vice chairwoman.

The three elected members of the new majority did not run as a formal slate. In 1998, Bailey, an incumbent, endorsed Young and offered her some in-kind contributions. Young was the top vote-getter that year. Crawford came in fifth out of seven in 2002, when all the board seats were on the ballot. Abell, director of March of Dimes for Southern Maryland, was appointed by school board members after an application process. She describes herself as an independent and not as religiously "devout" as her colleagues.

The four routinely vote together, making up a majority on the board. They are united by the view that past boards were not active enough in challenging long-held policies.

"This board has been bold and attention-getting," said Crawford, a security guard in the District. "We're not trying to make headlines. It's just the negative reaction of people in the education world and the media toward conservative views."

Crawford's beliefs were shaped by his family and religious schooling, including his studies at Jerry Falwell's evangelical Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Crawford is the scion of a Republican family that is well known in Southern Maryland. At least one of his family members -- his father or uncle, or both -- has appeared on ballots in nearly every state election since 1986.

Crawford was the first in the family to win in 2002 at age 25. Public schools, he said, should be teaching students humility and to distinguish between right and wrong. His teachers, he said, started the school day with prayer.