Earlier this year, we covered Texas governor’ Rick Perry’s bid for the Republican prez nominee, noting his dismissal of Darwinism. Now, in “Evolution debate on tap: Some candidates look to revive discussion” (Amarillo Globe-News, May 13, 2012), Jacob Mayer reports,
The State Board of Education is scheduled to review science materials in summer 2013, when Amarillo attorney Marty Rowley, Amarillo Independent School District board president Anette Carlisle and a handful of other contenders for seats on the panel hope to stir anew efforts to kindle classroom discussion of alternatives to evolution.
Here, politics play a significant role because the State Board of Education is an elected, rather than appointed, body.
Science standards regarding evolution have been debated in board races throughout the state in the run-up to the May 29 primary. All 15 board seats are up for re-election because of redistricting. Early voting starts Monday.
The current state science curriculum says, “In all fields of science, analyze, evaluate and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of the scientific evidence of those scientific explanations so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.”
That sentence replaced language in 2009 that addressed the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories, including evolution, according to Texas Education Agency.
Pin down yer hats. Should be fun.
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