Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Author Archive
The Week in Quotes (Feb. 12 – 18)
February 19, 2012The Week in Quotes (Feb. 5 – 11)
February 12, 2012Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Happy Birthday, Charles!
February 10, 2012By Garrett Mize
TFN Youth Advocacy Coordinator
Students are standing up for science across the state this month as our Texas Freedom Network Student Chapters celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday at university campuses from Brownsville and El Paso to Houston.
Darwin Day is Sunday, February 12, and students are using the day as an occasion to highlight the importance of teaching evolution in science classes.
Next year the Texas State Board of Education will adopt science textbooks, and evolution will be a key battle in this decision. The purpose of these TFN campus events is to educate students about irresponsible efforts by politicians to dumb-down what public schools teach about evolution.
This is also an opportunity to mobilize students into advocacy around science education standards.
TFN believes Texas students deserve a 21st-century science education that prepares them to succeed in college and the jobs of tomorrow.
During debate over new public school science standards in 2009, the Texas Freedom Network and other supporters of sound science education persuaded a majority of State Board of Education members to strip out a requirement that students learn about phony “weaknesses” of evolution. Unfortunately, far-right pressure groups succeeded in opening the door to other creationist attacks on evolution in science classrooms, so the controversial debate over how to teach evolution in Texas is not yet over.
The Week in Quotes (Jan. 29 – Feb. 4)
February 5, 2012Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Talking Points
February 2, 2012From today’s TFN News Clips:
“It’s a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher’s pay scale, you’ll attract people who aren’t called to teach.”
— Alabama Republican state Sen. Shadrack McGill, offering a novel argument against raising teacher salaries. But McGill, who was speaking at a prayer breakfast, defended a 62 percent pay hike Alabama legislators approved for themselves in 2007.
Stay informed with TFN News Clips, a daily digest of news on issues involving religious freedom, civil liberties and public education. Subscribe here.
The Week in Quotes (Jan. 22 – 28)
January 29, 2012Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Talking Points
January 27, 2012From today’s TFN News Clips:
“I think it’s unnatural. I think it’s wrong that people touch other people’s private parts outside of special covenantal relationships.”
— Texas state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, talking about airport security pat-downs by Transportation Security Administration agents.
Stay informed with TFN News Clips, a daily digest of news on issues involving religious freedom, civil liberties and public education. Subscribe here.
One Day Left to Buy Tickets for Leonard Pitts!
January 24, 2012
Time is running out to purchase tickets for Wednesday night’s presentation by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and book author Leonard Pitts in Houston. Pitts will speak at 7 p.m. at Congregation Emanu El in Houston. You can purchase tickets ($20) here.
Earlier Wednesday Pitts will also be on a panel discussion for “Religion in the 2012 Elections,” a symposium co-sponsored by the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and the Rice University Religion and Public Life Program. But no seats are left for that event, and registration for the symposium is now closed.
The Week in Quotes (Jan. 15 – 21)
January 22, 2012Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Next Week: ‘Religion in the 2012 Elections’
January 19, 2012
“There is an absolute historical pattern to the bigotry of social conservatives. They rally using terms of moral Armageddon against the freedoms sought by some despised or condescended to Other, whether that be a woman wanting to work outside the home, a Jew seeking to join the country club, an African American trying to get home on a city bus. Then the freedoms are won, and people — even socially conservative ones — realize the world kept spinning after all. Armageddon did not come. Only change.”
That’s from a recent column by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Leonard Pitts. The Texas Freedom Network Education Fund is hosting an evening presentation by Pitts next week — 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 25, at Congregation Emanu El in Houston. Earlier that day Pitts will speak at a symposium on “Religion in the 2012 Elections,” which the TFN Education Fund is co-sponsoring with the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and the Rice University Religion and Public Life Program. The symposium is 1-4:30 p.m. at James A. Baker III Hall on the Rice campus.
We have a fantastic line-up of public opinion experts and commentators for the symposium. And Pitts is one of the most engaging writers in America today. Click here for more information and to register for the symposium or purchase tickets ($20) for the Pitts presentation.
The Week in Quotes (Jan. 8 – 14)
January 16, 2012Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Talking Points
January 12, 2012From today’s TFN News Clips:
“What you see is what you get, and he stands on the same foundation that I stand on. He acknowledges God in his life, and without God, where would we be? He’s not like some pastors who think they own their church. He acknowledges those around him. And his wife is a great asset. She’s submissive to him, as she should be.”
— Patty Whetsell, a Republican activist in South Carolina, talking about Rick Perry.
Stay informed with TFN News Clips, a daily digest of news on issues involving religious freedom, civil liberties and public education. Subscribe here.
Talking Points
January 10, 2012From today’s TFN News Clips:
“I want the full portrait of evolution and the people who came up with the ideas to be presented. It’s a worldview and it’s godless. Atheism has been tried in various societies, and they’ve been pretty criminal domestically and internationally. The Soviet Union, Cuba, the Nazis, China today: they don’t respect human rights. As a general court we should be concerned with criminal ideas like this and how we are teaching it…. Columbine, remember that? They were believers in evolution. That’s evidence right there.”
— New Hampshire Republican state Rep. Jerry Bergevin, who has introduced one of two new anti-evolution bills in that state’s legislature.
Stay informed with TFN News Clips, a daily digest of news on issues involving religious freedom, civil liberties and public education. Subscribe here.
SBOE Candidate: Dexter Smith
January 9, 2012Because of redistricting, all 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be up for grabs in the November 2012 elections. The results of those elections will determine whether the religious right’s corrosive influence over public education will weaken or grow as the board considers what the next generation of public school students in Texas will learn about sex education, social studies, science and other subjects. We plan to publish on TFN Insider candidate announcements for a seat on the SBOE. We will publish announcements in no particular order, and their publication does not constitute any sort of endorsement by TFN. We will redact requests for contributions or mentions of fundraising events from the announcements, but we will provide links to the candidates’ websites (if available).
Dexter Smith, District 7, D-Friendswood
(Current District 7 Board Member: David Bradley, R-Beaumont)
On Dec. 12, educator Dexter Smith filed to run as a Democrat in SBOE Dist. 7. The seat is currently held by David Bradley, R-Beaumont, who is running for reelection. Smith’s website is dextersmith4sboe.com.
My name is Dexter Smith. I am a father of four. My wife’s name is Toya and we have been married for 18 years. Our oldest child currently attends Texas Tech University and her younger siblings attend Clear Brook High in Clear Creek ISD.
Education
I am a graduate of La Marque High School. After graduation I attended Lamar University on a track and field scholarship. In 2001 I graduated from University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in History. In December 2010 I graduated from University of Phoenix with a Master’s in Elementary Education. Currently I am enrolled in the Region IV principal certification program.Professional
This school year will be my 11th year at Mainland Preparatory Academy. The majority of my time has been spent serving as the 3rd and 4th grade social studies teacher. I also serve in various capacities on campus that include Chair of the Social Studies Department, Chair of the Red Ribbon Committee, member of Campus Improvement Team and Student Council Sponsor. I’ve enjoyed the challenges and success of working with students over the years. I desire to sit of the State Board of Education District 7 because the decisions to inject political and personal values have become a distraction. It is time for educators to lead our schools on their mission of educating students. Professional educators are best qualified to create schools the students of Texas deserve and prepare them for life post-graduation.
The Week in Quotes (Jan. 1 – 7)
January 8, 2012Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
