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[TX] State board [of Education] deals preliminary victory to pro-evolution advocates
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| Contributor | DFWDem |
| Last Edited | DFWDem Jan 22, 2009 04:54pm |
| Category | General |
| News Date | Jan 22, 2009 04:50pm |
| Description | The State Board of Education this afternoon rejected efforts to continue to require Texas children to learn the “strengths and weaknesses” of scientific theories such as evolution.
Two motions to leave that language, or similar phrasing, in place failed. It was a defeat for a group of conservative board members who have been pushing to keep the phrase, which has been part of the Texas science curriculum for all public school students since 1988.
The board is considering a draft document crafted by a committee of teachers and other education experts who had recommended replacing the “strengths and weaknesses” phrase with a requirement to “analyze and evaluate scientific explanations.” Some who supported removing the “strengths and weaknesses” phrase from state science standards have argued that the phrase can promote the teaching of creationism alongside evolution.
Board member Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, (pictured at right) moved to reinsert the “strengths and weaknesses” phrase this afternoon.
“I think the safest and best route to go, then, is to keep the exact language as it currently exists, which has been tried and true for two decades.” said Dunbar, whose district includes Williamson County and parts of Travis County. “It has in no way risen to the level of a government agency of any kind (being involved in) inappropriate religious activity.”
Her initial motion was defeated by a 7-7 vote, with board member Rene Nunez, D-El Paso, absent from the room. Dunbar’s subsequent motion — to require students to evaluate scientific theories “by examining scientific evidence supportive or not supportive of those explanations” instead of by evaluating “strengths and weaknesses” — was also defeated. |
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