State board to hear testimony for, and against, evolution
January 20, 2009
Scientists, educators and advocacy groups say creationists are trying to water down science education by calling for students to study the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories such as evolution.
Written by Matt Frazier , The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The next skirmish in the long-running dispute about the teaching of evolution in Texas public schools is set for Wednesday.
That's when scores of people, including six appointed curriculum reviewers, are expected to testify before the State Board of Education on a proposal for the next decade's science curricula.
Today is the deadline to sign up to testify.
Scientists, educators and advocacy groups say creationists are trying to water down science education by calling for students to study the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories such as evolution.
Educators removed the "weaknesses" phrase in the first draft of the science curriculum. After a public hearing in November that attracted more than 200 speakers, the phrase was put back into the second draft with the word weaknesses changed to limitations.
The third and final draft says students should be able to "analyze and evaluate" scientific explanations.
An even split
The six appointed reviewers will be split on whether to approve the final draft, according to the Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based organization that challenges the teaching of evolution. Two of the reviewers are Discovery Institute members; the third is a chemistry professor at Baylor University. They think students should be able to analyze problems in evolution, John West, an institute member, said.
The reviewers who support evolution, all Texas scientists and biology teachers, don't want any such phrase included in the curriculum, said Kathy Miller, a spokeswoman for the Texas Freedom Network, an Austin-based nonprofit group that opposes religious influence on public education.
Online petition
The 21st Century Science Coalition, formed by Texas scientists and educators who say politics and ideology should not influence science education, criticizes what it sees as attempts to water down or censor scientific information. An online petition was signed by almost 1,400 scientists and teachers.
Pitted against them is the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, which encourages schools to teach the theory of intelligent design -- "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause," according to the Institute's Web site.
Critics of the theory of evolution have support on the State Board of Education, including its chairman, Don McLeroy. However, no board member has expressed a desire to have creationism or intelligent design taught in public classrooms. A final vote on the science standards is expected in March.
Online: The proposed recommendations,
The Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture,
The Texas Freedom Network,
The 21st Century Science Coalition.
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