creationism
tfk | March 27, 2009Craig offers to amend ESS 4:
Earth in Space and Time. The student knows how Earth-based and space-based astronomical observations reveal differing theories about the structure, scale, composition, origin, and history of the universe.
to read:
4) Earth in Space and Time. The student knows how Earth-based and space-based astronomical observations reveal information about the structure, scale, composition, origin, and history of the universe.
This was the recommendation of the ESS writing committee.
Motion fails, 7-8. Agosto breaks with the good guys.
Dunbar offers an amendment to 8(A), which…
pharyngula | March 27, 2009Texans need some wise advice. KTBX asks, How do you think science should be taught in Texas schools?.
Evolution only - 34.50%
Creationism only - 16.83%
Combination of both - 48.67%
Total Responses -600
Those numbers don't look quite right to me. I'm about to get on a plane and fly to Minneapolis…is there any chance there will be a significant shift by the time I land?
tfk | March 27, 2009Dunbar jumped in line, and is trying to reinsert a new 7(B), slightly varied from the one just stricken.
"analyze and evaluate the sufficiency of scientific explanations concerning any data of sudden appearance, stasis, and the sequential nature of groups in the fossil record."
Allen likes it better, but won't support it, because he hasn't had a chance to vet it with his experts.
Mercer wants it, because he wants to talk about sudden appearance.
Craig is generally supportive, but offers an amendment. Wants to strike "the sufficiency of."
Dunbar supports the amendment, so this'll pass.
Craig…
pharyngula | March 27, 2009I was premature in mentioning the good news from the Texas hearings: the situation is much messier than I thought. The 'strengths and weaknesses' amendment lost on points, but the creationists responded with a flurry of new amendments to various pieces of the science standards — most of them look like very nit-picky changes in wording that have deep meaning to creationists, I assume. Science wasn't murdered by the Texas board, but is only being wounded and made to suffer the torture of a thousand cuts.
The Texas Freedom Network has released a summary statement.
The word "weaknesses" no…
gregladen | March 27, 2009There is a poll on this page that you may be interested in participating in. Hint hint.
Right now the creationists are winning.
tfk | March 27, 2009Lawrence Allen proposes to strike the noxious 7B from Biology standards. That standard states: "analyze and evaluate the sufficiency or insufficiency of common ancestry to explain the sudden appearance, stasis, and sequential nature of groups in the fossil record."
McLeroy claims that evolution can't explain stasis or sudden appearance. Must I observe that stabilizing selection is kinda well-documented?
McLeroy would've brought his evidence had he known he had he'd face this again: "I have the Time magazine cover."
"It's not complicated! I disagree with these experts."
"Yes, it's hard to…
tfk | March 26, 2009Dunbar offers a new amendment to the fraught 3A, formerly the "strengths and weaknesses" language. It would now read:
analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations in all fields of science by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning and experimental and observational testing, by examining scientific evidence that is supportive and not supportive of those explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.
She cites bogus claims about any change in the language possibly creating a legal cause of action based on "legislative intent." This isn't a legislature, and…
sa smith | March 26, 2009Hands down, the most memorable phrase spoken by DR. Charles Jackson at our 'debate' tonight.
It was a ton of fun, you guys! Might be a few days before the video is up, but it was fun! Few short comments before I get to sleep (1 hour of presentations, 2.5 of Q&A, Im seepy).
1. Jackson couldnt have illustrated the parrot-nature of Creationists any better. After I talked about an endogenization event in lemurs (theres more to the story, I blag about it soon!), part of Jacksons rebuttal was reading sentences from the papers I had just talked about 2 minutes earlier. He didnt understand a…
pharyngula | March 26, 2009The effort to insert the 'strengths and weaknesses" nonsense into the Texas science curriculum by creationists has been defeated. That's the good news.
The bad news is that it was a real squeaker, defeated by a 7:7 vote. It was a ridiculous notion, and it's similarly ridiculous that it was even close.
amillikan | March 26, 2009Over the past three days, the Texas State Board of Education has heard over 50 testimonies debating a proposed amendment to reinstate the requirement of teaching the "strengths and weaknesses" of the theory of evolution in the statewide science curriculum. The proposed regulation, which has provided creationism a place in the classroom in the past, alarmed scientists not only for its potential repercussions in Texas, but because of the state's large textbook market as well, which forces textbook authors to bend to the state's curricula. To their relief, the bill failed this morning in a…
tfk | March 26, 2009Bob Craig is proposing amendments to Earth and Space Science. These largely track recommendations from a panel of the ESS writers, in response to amendments offered by the Board last January.
The first strikes "differing theories" and replaces it with "information about," in:
4) Earth in Space and Time. The student knows how Earth-based and space-based astronomical observations reveal information about the structure, scale, composition, origin, and history of the universe.
Dunbar asks who proposed it, and Craig points out that Kyle Lewallen presented it to the Board yesterday, and that he…
tfk | March 26, 2009Terri Leo just offered an amendment to add a standard to Biology 9:
D) analyze and evaluate the evidence regarding formation of simple organic molecules and their organization into long complex molecules having information such as the DNA molecule for self-replicating life.
It passed, with reservations expressed by various members who hadn't had time to review it. This will come up for a vote again tomorrow.
Mavis Knight proposed to remove the creationist amendment McLeroy introduced last time. The vote failed, with Agosto abstaining.
McLeroy is now advocating an amendment to add another…
tfk | March 26, 2009I'm currently taping the Texas Board of Education as they consider amendments and motions regarding state science standards. The first big fight related to language in the standards on the books now which refers to "strengths and weaknesses," and to change that to a requirement that students "analyze and evaluate" scientific ideas. Ken Mercer offered the amendment striking the "analyze and evaluate" language, replacing it with old language that had been abused to attack evolution in the 2003 science standards fight.
Bob Craig, a Republican who votes with the coalition supporting accurate…
pharyngula | March 26, 2009Scientists are baffled by his ability to survive. After the recent discovery of transitional fossil octopods, I predicted that creationists would abuse the discovery…and Denyse O'Leary fulfilled my prediction of stupidity by claiming that the fossils showed that cephalopods hadn't evolved at all. Wouldn't you know it, but Joseph Farah of World Nut Daily has upped the ante by being even more explicitly wrong.
1Scientists are baffled by the latest fossil find.
2
It's an octopus they claim is 95 million years old.
3
And, guess what? It looks just like a modern-day octopus — complete with eight…
clock | March 26, 2009How should students learn about evolution?
On Thursday morning's Takeaway (at about 6:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.
Eastern), we're talking with Don McLeroy, chair of the Texas State
Board of Education. He's believes that students should have the
opportunity to question evolution (and that God created the Earth a
few thousand years ago). Texas is expected to vote this week on new
science standards that could influence textbooks and how more states
treat this controversial issue.
"Evolution and education with Texas State Board of Education chair Don McLeroy"
The Texas Board of Education is in the midst…
tfk | March 25, 2009
I missed the first few minutes with this camera, and someone knocked it over briefly, but still, you get the flavor of things.
More anon, including video of my testimony.
gregladen | March 25, 2009Over 50 scientific societies representing hundreds of thousands of American scientists today publicly urged the Texas Board of Education to support accurate science education....
From the National Center for Science Education
Over 50 scientific societies representing hundreds of thousands of American scientists today publicly urged the Texas Board of Education to support accurate science education. The board--dominated by creationists--has been embroiled in a debate over changes to the Texas science standards that could compromise the teaching of evolution.
"Evolution is the foundation of…
tfk | March 25, 2009There are more questions for Don Patton than for Genie. He thinks evolution defenders are a bunch of liars. He also thinks that the Flintstones is a documentary. He's so far out that even other creationists reject his claims.
Cargill wants to talk with him about his research. Also wants to know how well the fossil record is filled in, which Patton tries to avoid answering.
Gerald Skoog knocks it out of the park.
Hiram Sasser, of Focus on your own the Family did well on the science part of ACT, so he's an expert. He's ready to overturn the Copernican model.
There's a fictional lawsuit…
tfk | March 25, 2009They're inviting special people to jump in line.
Genie is being invited to testify. Youtube shortly.
Now some guy is saying that everyone who defends evolution is an evil atheist.
And the next guy is a Paluxy track apologist. Honestly.
tfk | March 25, 2009I was looking forward to seeing the author of a predecessor to Of Pandas and People. Alas, family illness kept him away, but his substitute decided to assert that "Richard Dawkins plagiarized Francis Crick," a stark claim which seems unsupported.
Krouse is good, but no questions.
James Norelius: Claims the pilot Smitty didn't follow standard procedure, so we should add S&W to the TEKS. Sadly, no.