Category Archives for science

TFN and the Textbook Wars Head to Tribeca!

We’re excited to tell you that the Texas Freedom Network’s fight against textbook censorship and efforts to politicize public education will be part of a new documentary film premiering this weekend at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. “The Revisionaries” explores how far-right radicals on the State Board of Education in Texas [...]

Also posted in censorship, creationism, evolution, science and religion, social studies, State Board of Education, TFNEF
| 3 Comments |


Opposing Texas SBOE Candidates Talk Evolution and Science Education

We can’t republish the Waco Tribune-Herald’s full Q-and-A pieces with Texas State Board of Education incumbent Gail Lowe of Lampasas and her challenger in the District 14 Republican primary on May 29, Sue Melton of Waco. (The two articles are behind the Trib’s paywall; links are below.) But we did want to note how the [...]

Also posted in 2012 Texas SBOE elections, evolution, Gail Lowe, Sue Melton, TFN
| 4 Comments |


Falling Behind on Science Education

A national poll shows that 97 percent of American voters think improving the quality of science education is important to the country’s ability to compete globally. Yet most of those voters give the quality of science education in America right now only a “C” or lower and rate it behind that of most other countries. [...]

Also posted in State Board of Education, TFNEF
| 10 Comments |


Happy Birthday, Charles!

By 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 [...]

Also posted in evolution, State Board of Education
| 2 Comments |


2011 in Quotes: The War on Science

The assault on science and science education continued throughout 2011. Today’s review of quotes from the past year shows that evolution and climate change were major targets in the right’s war on science, especially in Texas. Read other quotes from the far right in 2011 here. “The controversy over science standards was actually the result [...]

Also posted in climate change, creationism, evolution, intelligent design, science and religion, The Year in Quotes
| 3 Comments |


Are You Fracking Kidding Me?

Maybe it’s the stress of the campaign. Maybe it was another gaffe by the gaffe-prone governor. Maybe it’s just simply a change of heart. But whatever the reason, Gov. Rick Perry exposed himself this weekend as a lover of scientific evidence. For reals.

Also posted in Rick Perry
| 4 Comments |


Science Back in the Crosshairs in Texas?

Just when it looked like science education might be safe for a while in Texas public schools, the State Board of Education could soon be dragging the state back into the textbook wars over evolution. At last week’s meeting in Austin, state board members began mapping out the schedule for adopting textbooks and curriculum standards [...]

Also posted in Educational Research Analysts, evolution
| 5 Comments |


Mercer Still Attacking Science and Teachers

How in the world did we miss this? Seems that in August, Texas State Board of Education member Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio, had some interesting things to say about science and social studies curriculum standards on a Tea Party radio program. Speaking on the San Antonio Tea Party’s Boiling Point radio show, Mercer offered much [...]

Also posted in creationism, evolution, Ken Mercer
| 27 Comments |


Perry Stands Up for Science

Before you get too excited about the headline, let’s make it clear that this happened in the context of Gov. Rick Perry seeking the Republican nomination for president. So while it would be great to be able to say that Gov. Perry has offered mainstream science a sincere Texan bear hug, it’s more likely that [...]

Also posted in 2012 Elections, Rick Perry
| 2 Comments |


Perry: Scientists Are Money-Grubbing Liars!

Those weren’t the exact words Texas Gov. Rick Perry used, but that was the gist of his comments in New Hampshire this morning. Already an acknowledged evolution denier, Gov. Perry made clear that he is also an anti-science fanatic on the problem of climate change. A Union Leader editor tweeted the following quote from Gov. [...]

Also posted in climate change, Rick Perry
| 14 Comments |