Texas Education Agency’s Director of Science, Christine Comer, has been fired for forwarding an e-mail about a talk on evolution and creationism. Because, it seems, the Texas Education Agency “must remain neutral” on such matters. Even though the high school biology standards state :
*“The student knows the theory of biological evolution,” the standards read, and is expected to “identify evidence of change in species using fossils, DNA sequences, anatomical similarities, physiological similarities and embryology,” as well as to “illustrate the results of natural selection in speciation, diversity, phylogeny, adaptation, behavior and extinction.”
*
But not for long, perhaps.
I’m holding out for the day that they realize that gravitation is only a theory, too. And maybe all get flung off into space without that theoretical gravity holding them down.
Well, Lightray, given the burning desire residents of College Station seem to have to ignore gravity’s lessons from 1999, they may yey become a buncha goldurn floaters.
Please don’t paint the rest of us with the maroon brush though.
If this becomes a trend at high schools in bible belt states, what is the likelihood that a major university will decline to admit students from states that adopt such academic standards?
Of course not all Texans are idiots or creationists (I know, I know, what’s the difference?). It’s just a pity that most of the ones in positions of authority seem to be.
When something actually happens, let me know. Right now: Yawn. A newspaper reports that one member (the Chairman, but so what) of a 15 person panel "lectured favorably in the past about intelligent design ", and you claim that Texas “won” a skirmish in the evolution/ID battle? Overreact much?
That would be interesting. What do you think would happen if an Ivy League school stated flat out “there will be no applications accepted from school systems that mandate significant scientific discussion of non-evolutionary biological theories”?
This is actually pretty darn serious: Texas’ school books tend to be bought by other school districts. They’re just about the largest single consumer, as books are bought on the state level in Texas, and therefore, things are written to their standards.
"…the Texas Education Agency’s director of science, Christine Castillo Comer…is out of a job, after forwarding an e-mail message on a talk about evolution and creationism — “a subject on which the agency must remain neutral,” according to a dismissal letter last month that accused her of various instances of “misconduct and insubordination” and of siding against creationism and the doctrine that life is the product of “intelligent design.” "
It’s the firing of the Texas Education Agency’s Director of Science for forwarding an e-mail that I’m reacting to, as well as the admonition to remain neutral on the topic of evolution vs. creationism. That seems appropriate to you?
As for my “claim” about winning a skirmish? It’s just a thread title. Don’t get too worked up about it. How about “Educational Bullshit in Texas”?
Naw, I sure wasn’t fussin’, more holding them at arm’s length.
Actually, they are a scarily determined group. We were very involved in waging a lengthy, exhausing battle against a fundamentalist takeover of our alma mater two years ago here in Texas. While we won, continued and disturbing developments have continued to unfold, making us well aware any victory is fleeting and permanent vigilance is necessary. I knew a good man who died from the struggle and it distresses me to think that toll may continue.
… and Siam, blow it out your dumb fucking ass.
I fear that I may have pointed this out with tiresome regularity, but…
The influence of Texas on American politics is vastly out of proportion to its importance. Texas has become the nursery for some of the worst influences in our national discourse: fundamentalist religion and fundamentalist capitalism. Tom DeLay is the archtype of this sort of political pustule.
Change is coming to Texas, but it will be a long, hard slog, the tightest of the righties have skillfully embedded themselves under the skin like a chigger. (Don’t know what a “chigger” is? Count your blessings.)
Speaking as a recovering Texan, those of you lefty types who have the stones to stay in Texas and fight it out have my unqualified applause. Ann Richards and St. Molly are gone, but there will be others. You will win, Texas will change.
Damn, made me think about how much I miss genuine, pure-D Bar-B-Q. Up here, they think in has something to do with tomato sauce! Hell, might as well eat spaghetti!