Joy Killough and Robert Crowther (aka Casey Luskin)

STAT and TABT issue a joint statement against S&W, remove January amendments. Detailed critique of the amendments, worrying about appropriateness and new testing requirements which might arise. Adopt the TEKS as presented by writing committees.

Emphasizes that gaps are not weaknesses in a theory.

Hardy: "I am concerned" about how much time is spent on evolution. 3 days. But we talk about it all year long.

Dunbar: Do you omit weaknesses to make time for strengths?

Robert Crowther is replaced by Casey Luskin. "Greetings!," he begins, omitting "earthlings!" He whines about treatment of Disco. at previous meetings. Has documents claiming to refute Hillis and Wetherington at previous meetings. Normal creationist claptrap. Cites New Scientist article. Claims this has been one-sided. Demonizes us and nearly every scientist as the "evolution lobby."

Cargill: What happens when it isn't in the standards? Casey: People use it "as a hammer" to keep creationism out. Horrors.

Craig: Do you dislike the new "analyze and evaluate"? I like it, why don't "evolution lobby" like it being applied only to evolution?

He's citing weak language on evolution in six states to claim that S&W has precedent elsewhere.

Casey needs decaf. Also thinks he's an expert in pedagogy.

Leo is worried about textbooks. Will Casey plug Explore Evolution?

More like this

You can listen along with me at: http://at1.tea.state.tx.us/sboeaudio As before, board comments are in blue. Rose Banzhas, speaking for herself but also an environmental educator: Environmental education matters. As an outdoor educator, I know this matters. McLeroy keeps asking people if they're…
Charles Garner, creationist chemist from Baylor: Are there weaknesses in theories? Sez we can substitute explanations or hypotheses, but these are not interchangeable. Claims theory is being redefined, which is nonsense. Can be weaknesses. Gets into origins of life, beginning with proteins,…
Dunbar proposes that old TEKS be revise to say: Analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, experimental and observational reasoning and problem solving by examining scientific evidence supportive and not supportive of those explanations.…
Ron Wetherington, a professor of anthropology at Southern Methodist University: Praises draft standards. Allows publishers to stick to facts. "Partisans are generating doubt about evolution with disingenuous phrases." People lack understanding of key concepts. What are weaknesses? Common in…