Straight Platform Politics

Texas State Board of Education Controversy: Newly Adopted Science Curriculum Standards – Part 5

Texas science curriculum standards: the Zogby Poll

The proponents of evolution were not entirely happy with the language in the newly adopted Texas science curriculum standards and were not at all happy with the results of a Zogby Poll released right before Darwin Day. See Part 4. See Part 2.

The poll showed that 78% of the respondents supported teaching the scientific evidence for and against the theory of evolution and that 80% agreed that students and teachers should have the academic freedom to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of evolution.

What must be most disconcerting to the evolutionists is that in the 18-24 age group, 100% supported teaching the science for and against evolution and over 95% agreed with the question concerning academic freedom.

This does not bode well for the proponents of evolution even though they claim that the poll was misleading because it played on the respondents’ sense of fairness (teaching both sides) and on their general support for academic freedom.

The poll does show, however, that a very large number of people still think that there is scientific evidence against evolution and that there are weaknesses in the theory. Otherwise, the poll wording would not have misled them.

That alone shows that the controversy surrounding evolution is alive and well and will not go away anytime soon.

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Texas State Board of Education Controversy: Newly Adopted Science Curriculum Standards – Part 4

Texas science curriculum standards: the controversy continued

The old Texas science curriculum standards contained anti-evolution code words. See Part 3. Texas State Board of Education voted to remove the offensive code words, but evolutionists were not entirely happy with the new language.

The new science standards required students, in all fields of science, to “analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.”

Did you find the new offensive code words? “Examining all sides of scientific evidence.” According to proponents of evolution, there is only one side to evolution and these new code words will now open the classroom to non-science.

Evolutionists claim that science has proven the theory; it is fact. And it needs to be taught as fact. Anything else is junk. Students must not be taught anything that may, in anyway, introduce doubt concerning the theory of evolution.

But a newly released Zogby Poll showed that a large majority of the public feel that students should have the opportunity to learn the evidence for and against the theory of evolution. This was not good news for the proponents of evolution.

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Texas State Board of Education Controversy: Newly Adopted Science Curriculum Standards – Part 3

Texas science curriculum standards: the controversy

Proponents of evolution were prepared for the revision of the Texas science curriculum standards. See Part 1 The old standards contained anti-evolution code words. That is what proponents of evolution including the New York Times (editorial 3-31-09) called them—code words. And these had to go.

What were these code words? “Strengths and weaknesses.” Teachers were supposed to teach the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories including the theory of evolution. Evolutionists viewed “strengths” and “weaknesses” as subversive code words.

Even though this wording had been in Texas science standards for about 20 years, everyone ignored the requirement, especially textbook publishers. That is until ‘Creationism’ and ‘Intelligent Design’ became more popular as theories explaining the origin of species. The subversive code words in the science curriculum standards had to go.

What made these words, ‘strengths’ and ‘weaknesses’ so offensive? According to Eugenie Scott, who signed Humanist Manifesto III (2003) on behalf of National Center for Science Education See Part 2, there are no weaknesses in evolution. It has problem areas that are not yet explained, but these problem areas are not weaknesses.

Texas State Board of Education voted to remove the offensive code words, but evolutionists were not entirely happy with the new language.

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Texas State Board of Education Controversy: Newly Adopted Science Curriculum Standards – Part 2

Texas science curriculum standards: importance continued

Textbook publishers write their books to meet Texas curriculum standards because Texas is one of the nation’s largest textbook buyers. Since these textbooks are sold to school districts in most of the other states, the way evolution is taught in Texas is the way it will be taught to students throughout the nation. See Part 1

But there was another reason why the decision of the Texas State Board of Education was so important. This year is the 200^th birthday of Charles Darwin as well as the 150^th anniversary of his Origin of Species. Darwin Day, February 12^th, is touted as a global celebration of science, reason, and humanity. Darwin Day, the brainchild of the humanist community, was first celebrated in 1995.

Humanists have been looking forward to, and building excitement for, this year’s celebration. It would be pretty embarrassing if Texas approved science standards questioning Darwin’s work when so many celebrations were scheduled or already underway.

Humanism rejects God, religion, and the supernatural. One of the signers of Humanist Manifesto III (2003) is Eugenie Scott. She signed as the Executive Director of National Center for Science Education. The NCSE worked extremely hard to influence the Texas State Board of Education’s decision.

A lot was at stake. School children must not be allowed to question evolution, Darwin’s theory of the origin of species.

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