Texas

Wednesday night, Ed Brayton and I joined Texas Citizens for Science and Center for Inquiry-Austin for a series of talks about science education in Texas.

i-bc7d8ad710a879c69cfff9911bb6b219-SteveSchafersman.jpgEarlier that day, a number of people attended a legislative hearing on the Texas Board of Education's egregious abuse of power and process in passing English language standards. In an 11th hour move, they switched standards drafted by their writing committee with ideologically driven standards which reflected board members' own skewed perspectives. It's widely seen as a preview of tricks they hope to play with science standards.

Over barbecue, I heard tales of the legislature raking the Board over the coals. At the talk itself, Steve Schafersman of Texas Citizens for Science gave more insights into the current situation in Texas, with an eye towards the impending fight over science standards. There are seven hardline conservatives who are sure to vote for bad standards, the challenge is keeping those seven (including chairman Don McLeroy) from getting an eight-vote majority.

i-daa236a47ff3445c526d09c069dedbe1-Braytoncracks.jpgAfter that, Ed Brayton compared the claims of ID advocates with John Baez's Crackpot Index, not surprisingly finding that ID scores somewhere between people who talk to their dogs, and those who believe they've been probed by aliens.

I closed by talking about the history of creationism, and how we got where we are today in Texas, Louisiana, and elsewhere. The questions afterward were excellent, as was the beer at the Draught House later.

Yesterday, I started the day with a visit to the State Board of Education. Alas, I had to leave before the innumerate hacks set the schedule for revising science standards, a decision which won't be considered final until the end of the Board's meeting today.

I admit to some skepticism about the Lone Star Republic State. That said, the Texans I've met in the last few days are great folks. Chris Comer is famous for standing strong for science, but there are many other Texans doing the same. Some work for the Texas Freedom Network, but many are just private citizens, writing letters, contacting the SBoE, and working to elect a better Board, and a better legislature.

I also have to admit that the barbecue really is pretty good. Also, that Netroots Nation is pretty awesome.

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The Texas Acadamy of Science has come out with a statement about creationism in Texas schools science classes, called "Texas Academy of Science Position Against the Inclusion of Creationism and Design Concepts in the Science Curricula in Texas Schools"
On one hand, we have the Huckabee factor ... Huckabee's draw on hard right voters in tomorrows primary may lead anti-evolutionists to victory. On the other hand, we have the Obama factor ...
We are busy watching Florida, and the ICR's new "degree" in "life science education" in Texas, and whatever crap is happening in our own back yards, and we may be missing a dramatic development at the K-12 level in Texas: Social conservatives are poised to take over the Texas State Board of Educ
I was just notified that one of the people working for Texas Citizens for Science (the good guys) will be discussing the Chris Comer incident with someone from the Texas Freedom Network (more good guys).

Geez...you are asking me to re-think my long held "Hate For All White Texans".

Before I have to change my world-view, let's see how that vote goes.

And BTW - Thanks for going, thanks for caring ,and GOOD LUCK on the vote. I look forward to changing my opinion of TX.
Plus, I want to see DaveScot go crazy if he loses.

After that, Ed Brayton compared the claims of ID advocates with John Baez's Crackpot Index, not surprisingly finding that ID scores somewhere between people who talk to their dogs, and those who believe they've been probed by aliens.

That sounds hilarious! Please tell me someone got Ed's talk on film, and it will be on YouTube soon.