SBOE Gives OK to Science Supplements
Update, 11:20 a.m.
After a battle appeared to be brewing between the board's left and right factions on contested language on evolution in one publisher's biology lessons, members found a compromise: Let the education commissioner decide.
Earlier this morning, the Texas Freedom Network circulated a letter signed by five members of the biology curriculum panel — educators from around the state — challenging the report that came from the SBOE panel, saying they "do not agree that the claims listed are errors" and that they derive from "overtly creationist literature and arguments."
And moderate members came prepared this ...
Comments (8)
Frank M. Carrejo via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Tell me it doesn't include creationism. We don't need to teach fairy tales in science.
Jessica Naya via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Exactly my thoughts, Frank.
Is this the 1920s? Smh...
Sharon Richard via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Mr. Bradley, my SBOE rep. Sigh.
Jason Stradtner via Texas Tribune on Facebook
the theory of evolution is just that....a theory. it has never been proven, just as creationism hasn't been proven, and neither probably never will be. I don't know how you get around the matter in schools though.
Linda Childs via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jason - Do you know what a theory means in the context of science? It doesn't mean that it's just somebody idea of possibly how things work, it means that it has been tested and retested and then tested again for holes until you finally arrive at something that consistently explains how the thing works. A theory reliably produces consistent results. A hypothesis is a possibility that hasn't been tested and is what most people mean when they use the word theory.
Evolution is a well understood and thought out theory. Evidence can and has been able to support it. You can't do the same for creationism even remotely. Creationism is religion, plain and simple. It is not science. This is one of the reasons we need good science education, so that people can understand the difference between the two and can therefore evaluate them intelligently.
Sanders Kaufman Jr. via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As a public school teacher who believes in evolution, I think we SHOULD teach about the various creationist myths.
For example, children should hear the one about how Hindus believe that Shiva danced a dance so beautiful that the universe just POPPED the earth into existence.
Then we should teach about how Scientologists believe that aliens threw themselves into an erupting volcano that spread their DNA all over the Earth - and that they're coming back someday... somehow..
It'll help to solidify their understanding of where we came from and the mistakes we made along the way... in Jesus name.
LuAnn Ferguson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gravity is a theory. Who has some leftover 'beliefs' from way back in time that they want to teach our children to keep them ignorant?
Steve Coyle via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Got to appease obviously-wouldn't want to actually act with conviction and stand by one's actions.