The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Texas Board of Education will start a new round of controversy when it votes this week on a new science curriculum designed to challenge the guiding principle of evolution. Stephanie Simon's article, "Texas School Board Set to Vote on Challenge to Evolution ", says that "the proposed curriculum change would prompt teachers to raise doubts that all life on Earth is descended from common ancestry."
The article points out that, "Texas is such a huge textbook market that many publishers write to the state's standards, then market those books nationwide."
Lines for debate are being clearly drawn. The article quotes Steven Newton, a project director at the National Center for Science Education, which promotes teaching of evolution as saying, "This is the most specific assault I've seen against evolution and modern science".
And, Texas school board chairman Don McLeroy is also quoted as viewing," the curriculum as a landmark -- but a positive one. Dr. McLeroy (a dentist) believes that God created the earth less than 10,000 years ago. If the new curriculum passes, he says he will insist that high-school biology textbooks point out specific aspects of the fossil record that, in his view, undermine the theory that all life on Earth is descended from primitive scraps of genetic material that first emerged in the primordial muck about 3.9 billion years ago. He also wants the texts to make the case that individual cells are far too complex to have evolved by chance mutation and natural selection, an argument popular with those who believe an intelligent designer created the universe."
By way of background, the article points out, "The vast majority of scientists accept evolution as the best explanation for the diversity of life on earth.
Yes, they say, there are unanswered questions -- transitional fossils yet to be unearthed, biological processes still to be discovered. There is lively scientific debate about some aspects of evolution's winding, four-billion-year path. But when critics talk about exposing students to the "weaknesses" or "insufficiencies" in evolutionary theory, many mainstream scientists cringe.
The fossil record clearly supports evolution, they say, and students shouldn't be exposed to creationist critiques in the name of "critical thinking."
"We will be teaching nonsense in the science classroom," said David Hillis, a biology professor at the University of Texas at Austin."
But, the article also quotes The Discovery Institute, a Seattle think tank that challenges evolution, citing "a recent Zogby poll that found a strong majority of Americans supports letting teachers explore both 'strengths and weaknesses' of evolution. Otherwise, students see only 'cherry-picked evidence that really amounts to propaganda,' said John West, a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute."
That seems to mirror public opinion. The article says, "Polls show many Americans are skeptical of or confused by evolution; in a recent survey by Gallup, 39% said they believe the theory, 25% said they didn't, and 36% had no opinion."
And that may get to the real issue. If the public is undecided about the theory of evolution and a strong majority of Americans support letting teachers explore both 'strengths and weaknesses' of evolution, then why do supporters of the theory want to shut down discussion and add evolution to the list of theories that they consider "settled"? It almost invites the question, "What are they afraid of?"
As one Board member is quoted as saying, "Anything can happen".
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Comments: 8
I should think Texas would be embarrassed to have a school board chairman who thinks the earth is only about 10,000 years old.
The last I heard "freedom of speech" means the freedom to express yourself, no matter how irritating others may find your words. But, we have a new "superior" class in America with little respect for others and their right to expression, who are eager to classify speech as "hate", "politically incorrect", or "settled" to deny others their say.
That's not the America that I was raised in. Rather, I was raised in an America of Texas Boards of Education where everyone got their say before things were decided. I think Texans should be proud of the Texas Board of Education.
I grew up in Texas in the 1940s and 1950s. The schools were segregated. My biology teacher gave religious lectures. There were many back alley abortions. The minister of the largest mainstream Protestant denomination church in town admitted to me that in his sermon he had lied to the congregation about the Supreme Court's ruling on official prayers in schools. I was punished physically for sitting down during a pep rally in Junior High School. My formal education through a masters degree was from the Texas educational system.
With that background I can assure you that the Texas Board of Education has been a shameful organization for scores of years. If the people of Texas are not shamed by that Board then they should be ashamed of themselves. Ignorance is no excuse if one is literate. Of course, perhaps the citizens of Texas became illiterate after I left. The vast majority could certainly read just fine before I left.
That said, I have nothing in common with the fundamentalists on the Texas Board of Education. I don't share their views or their educational philosophy, but I think they have a right to speak.
And, I do admire the state of Texas for allowing every one to have a say before decisions are made about educational materials used in teaching their children. And, I can't say that the states that allow "experts" to choose educational materials behind closed doors have done a better job.
I chose the article because I knew it would be controversial. Free speech always is.
Free thought is a very dangerous thing.
I fully agree that they have a right to speak and to publicize their point of view. I do not believe that they have a right to require that their propaganda be forced on children who are forced to attend their schools. That is what I object to. And the people of Texas are responsible for that Board of Education.
Up with free speech.
Kelly,
I was required to "wear matching shirts" and sing religious songs when I was in school. Would you oppose that?
Exploring the explanations for evolution is exactly what the biology classes should be doing. That is the heart of biology. The fact of evolution needs to be explained for biology to make any sense as a science.
Do you have any idea what a "theory" is? Most people don't.
That's a vert broad statement Larry. Can you elaborate on that? First you say evolution is a fact then say it is needed to make any sense of science. Have you observed molecules to man evolution? How is it that we have so many inventors, scientists and doctors who are also creationists if they couldn't make sense of biology?
What is it about biology that can't be understood without faith in evolution?
People don't reject evolution because it is a "theory." They reject it because they believe it is WRONG and should not be taught as fact.
You said, "Exploring the explanations for evolution is exactly what the biology classes should be doing."
This is saying that you already "know" the theory of evolution is true so we just need to somehow prove it by exploring biology. I think we should explore biology to explain the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
Should we not question the beliefs about biology even if those beliefs are widely held by prominent scientists? What has happened to freedom of inquiry?