“I disagree with these experts. Somebody’s gotta stand up to experts that are… I don’t know why they’re doing it. They’re wonderful people.” During today’s Texas State Board of Education debate over new public school science standards, board chairman Don McLeroy defended a measure challenging evolution and the concept of common descent specifically. Here’s the [...]
The Texas Freedom Network has released the following statement on the final adoption of science curriculum standards by the State Board of Education today: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2009 TFN President Kathy Miller: Texas State Board of Education Adopts Flawed Science Standards The word “weaknesses” no longer appears in the science standards. But the document [...]
11:10 – The board moves on to amendments at other grade levels. 11:14 – The amendment with “on all sides” applies to all science classes in third grade and up. 11:58 – Board members have moved off of evolution over the past hour, but we expect them to bring up amendments after an extended break. [...]
A link to the audio of today’s State Board of Education meeting is here. 9:00 – Today the Texas State Board of Education finally decides what the next generation of Texas students will learn about evolution in their public school science classrooms. The morning preliminaries are ceremonial, but we expect debate on the science curriculum [...]
Watch this short clip of State Board of Education chairman Don McLeroy explaining the true motivation behind his two amendments to proposed Texas science standards dealing with common descent and natural selection: We’ll say this for McLeroy – he’s not trying to hide his intent. The purpose of his amendments is to cause kids to question the [...]
OK, we’ve had a little time to digest all that went on today at the Texas State Board of Education. Without going through each of the many amendments that passed, here’s essentially what happened. This morning the board slammed the door on bringing creationism into classrooms through phony “weaknesses” arguments. But then board members turned [...]
2:56 – Barbara Cargill now offers an amendment for Earth and Space Science designed to challenge the Big Bang theory. She wants teachers to tell students that there are different estimates of the age of the universe. (Like, maybe billions of years vs. 10,000?) 3:00 – Cargill says she has no intention to open the [...]
1:43 – Sometimes the hypocrisy is really astounding. The anti-evolution Discovery Institute is harshly criticizing State Board of Education member Rick Agosto for asking that creationists remove their anti-evolution signs from the board room. Says the Disco: Apparently Texas Board of Education member Rick Agosto isn’t just content to censor science by removing any criticisms [...]
BREAKING NEWS: A proposed amendment adding “strengths and weaknesses” of scientific theories back to the science standards has failed on a 7-7 vote. 11:17 – With the defeat of “strengths and weaknesses,” the board is now on to other amendments. Ms. Cargill begins. 11:20 Despite Chairman McLeroy’s repeated prohibition against signs in the hearing room [...]
Note: A link for audio from the state board debate and vote is available here. 9:17 – The Texas State Board of Education meeting has begun, and we have some encouraging news. Dallas member Mavis Knight, a strong supporter of sound science standards, is participating by videoconference. It appears that Mary Helen Berlanga from Corpus [...]
