This summer, in fact.
Don McLeroy, dentist and chair of the Texas School board (a state-wide elected body) is a creationist. Of evolution, he says "I just don't think it's true or it's ever happened."
The 15 member board is stocked with seven creationists. It could have been worse, but the outcome of recent elections was slightly favorable. The governor of Texas is a creationist. Hell, most Texans are creationists.
The most likely creationist effort will be to insert a "strengths and weaknesses" clause ... an academic freedom provision, into the language.
Here is a current PDG essay on the situation by Joyce Anderson writing for the Jewish Times.
Here is a recent post on the academic freedom issue, and here is Mike and me talking about it on the radio.
Education & Careers
Comments
I wish I could be everywhere at once. Texas is one of my homestates and I worry about what they will do.
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | June 25, 2008 11:30 AM
Why worry? I think its pretty clear what they will do. Worrying about is just a waste of neurotransmitters and causes an increase in blood pressure. Personally, I prefer rage to worry, adrenalin rocks.
*gives Greg a quarter*
Posted by: Lorax | June 25, 2008 12:14 PM
Whether he believes evolution is real or ever happened is irrelevant to the discussion. I don't believe in the divinity of jesus, but I do recognize that impossible to study christianity without referencing christ and the bible. Evolution is one of the foundations of modern biology and it is impossible to understand biology without referencing evolution. Of course if he thinks that we, as a society, don't need medicine or agriculture then he should just come out and say so and skip the middle step of attacking evolution.
Posted by: Kevin | June 25, 2008 1:17 PM
Whether he believes evolution is real or ever happened is irrelevant to the discussion.
I disagree. A person who claims that he believes that "evolution never happened" should not be entangled in any official capacity with making policy decisions regarding K-12 education. He is not qualified.
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 25, 2008 1:29 PM
"A person who claims that he believes that "evolution never happened" should not be entangled in any official capacity with making policy decisions regarding K-12 education"
The sad reality is that Don McLeroy, and 6 more just like him, are involved in a official capacity with making education policy decisions. I am not any happier with that than you are.
Posted by: kevin | June 25, 2008 3:41 PM
Whether he believes evolution is real or ever happened is irrelevant to the discussion.
I disagree. A person who claims that he believes that "evolution never happened" should not be entangled in any official capacity with making policy decisions regarding K-12 education. He is not qualified.
(Not what you expected from a Christian,huh? :) )
As an educator in Texas, and first and foremost, a Christian, I can tell you that it DOES matter what he believes, since, for Mr. McElroy, what he thinks ultimately turns into State Board policy, by hook or by crook. I have already witnessed first hand his manipulation of the English Language Arts curriculum to fit his narrow-minded, completely ignorant views, and now he is transferring those views to the Science curriculum. As I mentioned earlier in this post, I'm a Christian - I DO believe in the absolute divinity of Christ, AND the sovereignty of God. HOWEVER, I'm also the daughter of a geologist, and know that the rock record supports not only the age of the earth (which is WAY older than what Mr. McElroy would have us believe), but also holds within nit the clues to support the idea of evolution. Sadly, I also know that what he will undoubtedly push for, along with his cronies, what HE believes, since apparently his understanding of his elected post is to get HIS beliefs into curriculum, rather than what is proven by SCIENCE. All I can say is, pray for the members of the SBOE (and not all are in his court) to remember who they are supposed to be representing - the citizens most directly effected by their decisions - the students of Texas!
Posted by: Becky | June 26, 2008 12:38 PM
Whether he believes evolution is real or ever happened is irrelevant to the discussion.
I disagree. A person who claims that he believes that "evolution never happened" should not be entangled in any official capacity with making policy decisions regarding K-12 education. He is not qualified.
(Not what you expected from a Christian,huh? :) )
As an educator in Texas, and first and foremost, a Christian, I can tell you that it DOES matter what he believes, since, for Mr. McElroy, what he thinks ultimately turns into State Board policy, by hook or by crook. I have already witnessed first hand his manipulation of the English Language Arts curriculum to fit his narrow-minded, completely ignorant views, and now he is transferring those views to the Science curriculum. As I mentioned earlier in this post, I'm a Christian - I DO believe in the absolute divinity of Christ, AND the sovereignty of God. HOWEVER, I'm also the daughter of a geologist, and know that the rock record supports not only the age of the earth (which is WAY older than what Mr. McElroy would have us believe), but also holds within nit the clues to support the idea of evolution. Sadly, I also know that what he will undoubtedly push for, along with his cronies, what HE believes, since apparently his understanding of his elected post is to get HIS beliefs into curriculum, rather than what is proven by SCIENCE. All I can say is, pray for the members of the SBOE (and not all are in his court) to remember who they are supposed to be representing - the citizens most directly effected by their decisions - the students of Texas!
Posted by: Becky | June 26, 2008 12:39 PM