As if we didn't need one more reason to sigh ... last week the State Board of Education voted, 6-2, to delay adopting the science portion of Michigan's new high school graduation requirements.

What's this all about? You guessed it. Evolution, again. The delay was requested by the chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees to placate State Reps. Jack Hoogendyk (R-Portage) and John Moolenaar, (R- Midland.)

They want language jammed into the standards that would legitimize teaching creationism and so-called "intelligent design."

The standards now direct science teachers to show how fossils, comparative anatomy and other evidence "may" demonstrate evolution. Hoogendyk and Moolenaar want "may or may not," language which allows teaching of creationism or intelligent design as alternative explanations and, thus, credible science.

Here's something that is really credible: If Michigan becomes known as a place with schools unwilling to teach accepted scientific reality, high-tech businesses will avoid us like a new Ice Age. And we can forget about evolving into a prosperous high-tech economy.

There may be better news soon. Topsiders in the Department of Education say the Board's delay in adopting standards was a tactical maneuver. They did that to help out legislative leaders who want some time to calm down some of the crazier members of their caucus. The State Board also wants to develop a method for lawmakers to provide "legislative input" in the design of teaching standards. That may sound silly, but that's far intrusive than a now-sidetracked House bill that would have dictated entire standards.

We'll see. The State Board meets next on Oct. 10. Board members tell me the votes are there to adopt a clear teaching standard that rules out creationism.  We better hope so.

Throwing a bone to legislative leaders may be good politics. But  opening the door to teaching wacky "science" is the worst possible thing Michigan could do at this moment in our economic crisis.

Come to think of it, though, Reps. Hoogendyk and Moolenaar may be rather more acute than we may realize.

We might even extend their healthy skepticism about prevailing theories to all manner of things previously viewed as certain.

The teaching standards for math could be revised to indicate that two plus two "may or may not" equal four, as appears to be the case in some alternative universes.

The Bible "may or may not" represent literal truth. The allies "may or may not" have won World War II; if so, the curriculum standards for history could stand some revision.

Even the prevailing notion that reducing business taxes automatically leads to economic growth could be subjected to the "may or may not" skepticism test.

But there's no "may or may not" in considering Michigan's economic crisis. We're in a lot of trouble. GM is cutting 30,000 jobs and closing plants. Ford just last week announced 44,000 cuts plus several more plants to be shuttered. DaimlerChrysler says it will lose $1.5 billion this summer, and that may be just the start.

Things are bad now, and they're going to get much worse.

Michigan is going to prosper -- if it prospers -- by attracting high value added companies like Pfizer and Google that need a highly educated work force. The highly productive and profitable Chrysler engine plant in Dundee requires even its workers on the line to have at least a community college degree.

Dithering over inserting "may or may not" into the Michigan curriculum with respect to evolution is the easiest way to drive off any companies that need a skilled and educated work force.

The State Board of Education must not fold in the wrong way at what, for our state, would be the worst possible time.

Phil Power is a longtime observer of politics, economics and education issues in Michigan. He would be pleased to hear from readers at ppower@hcnnet.com. These opinions and others expressed in Phil Power's columns are individual opinions and do not in any way represent official policy positions of the Center For Michigan.