Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Biology textbook hearings prompt science disputes [Texas]
Knight Ridder Newspapers ^ | 08 July 2003 | MATT FRAZIER

Posted on 07/09/2003 12:08:32 PM PDT by PatrickHenry

FORT WORTH, Texas - (KRT) -
The long-running debate over the origins of mankind continues Wednesday before the Texas State Board of Education, and the result could change the way science is taught here and across the nation.

Local and out-of-state lobbying groups will try to convince the board that the next generation of biology books should contain new scientific evidence that reportedly pokes holes in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Many of those groups say that they are not pushing to place a divine creator back into science books, but to show that Darwin's theory is far from a perfect explanation of the origin of mankind.

"It has become a battle ground," said Eugenie Scott, executive director of theNational Center of Science Education, which is dedicated to defending the teaching of evolution in the classroom.

Almost 45 scientists, educators and special interest groups from across the state will testify at the state's first public hearing this year on the next generation of textbooks for the courses of biology, family and career studies and English as a Second Language.

Approved textbooks will be available for classrooms for the 2004-05 school year. And because Texas is the second largest textbook buyer in the nation, the outcome could affect education nationwide.

The Texas Freedom Network and a handful of educators held a conference call last week to warn that conservative Christians and special interest organizations will try to twist textbook content to further their own views.

"We are seeing the wave of the future of religious right's attack on basic scientific principles," said Samantha Smoot, executive director of the network, an anti-censorship group and opponent of the radical right.

Those named by the network disagree with the claim, including the Discovery Institute and its Science and Culture Center of Seattle.

"Instead of wasting time looking at motivations, we wish people would look at the facts," said John West, associate director of the center.

"Our goal nationally is to encourage schools and educators to include more about evolution, including controversies about various parts of Darwinian theory that exists between even evolutionary scientists," West said. "We are a secular think tank."

The institute also is perhaps the nation's leading proponent of intelligent design - the idea that life is too complex to have occurred without the help of an unknown, intelligent being.

It pushed this view through grants to teachers and scientists, including Michael J. Behe, professor of biological sciences at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. The Institute receives millions of dollars from philanthropists and foundations dedicated to discrediting Darwin's theory.

The center sent the state board a 55-page report that graded 11 high school biology textbooks submitted for adoption. None earned a grade above a C minus. The report also includes four arguments it says show that evolutionary theory is not as solid as presented in biology textbooks.

Discovery Institute Fellow Raymond Bohlin, who also is executive director of Probe Ministries, based in Richardson, Texas, will deliver that message in person Wednesday before the State Board of Education. Bohlin has a doctorate degree in molecular cell biology from the University of Texas at Dallas.

"If we can simply allow students to see that evolution is not an established fact, that leaves freedom for students to pursue other ideas," Bohlin said. "All I can do is continue to point these things out and hopefully get a group that hears and sees relevant data and insist on some changes."

The executive director of Texas Citizens for Science, Steven Schafersman, calls the institute's information "pseudoscience nonsense." Schafersman is an evolutionary scientist who, for more than two decades, taught biology, geology, paleontology and environmental science at a number of universities, including the University of Houston and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

"It sounds plausible to people who are not scientifically informed," Schafersman said. "But they are fraudulently trying to deceive board members. They might succeed, but it will be over the public protests of scientists."

The last time Texas looked at biology books, in 1997, the State Board of Education considered replacing them all with new ones that did not mention evolution. The board voted down the proposal by a slim margin.

The state requires that evolution be in textbooks. But arguments against evolution have been successful over the last decade in other states. Alabama, New Mexico and Nebraska made changes that, to varying degrees, challenge the pre-eminence of evolution in the scientific curriculum.

In 1999, the Kansas Board of Education voted to wash the concepts of evolution from the state's science curricula. A new state board has since put evolution back in. Last year, the Cobb County school board in Georgia voted to include creationism in science classes.

Texas education requirements demand that textbooks include arguments for and against evolution, said Neal Frey, an analyst working with perhaps Texas' most famous textbook reviewers, Mel and Norma Gabler.

The Gablers, of Longview, have been reviewing Texas textbooks for almost four decades. They describe themselves as conservative Christians. Some of their priorities include making sure textbooks include scientific flaws in arguments for evolution.

"None of the texts truly conform to the state's requirements that the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories be presented to students," Frey said.

The Texas textbook proclamation of 2001, which is part of the standard for the state's curriculum, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, requires that biology textbooks instruct students so they may "analyze, review and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weakness using scientific evidence and information."

The state board is empowered to reject books only for factual errors or for not meeting the state's curriculum requirements. If speakers convince the state board that their evidence is scientifically sound, members may see little choice but to demand its presence in schoolbooks.

Proposed books already have been reviewed and approved by Texas Tech University. After a public hearing Wednesday and another Sept. 10, the state board is scheduled to adopt the new textbooks in November.

Satisfying the state board is only half the battle for textbook publishers. Individual school districts choose which books to use and are reimbursed by the state unless they buy texts rejected by the state board.

Districts can opt not to use books with passages they find objectionable. So when speakers at the public hearings criticize what they perceived as flaws in various books - such as failing to portray the United States or Christianity in a positive light - many publishers listen.

New books will be distributed next summer.

State Board member Terri Leo said the Discovery Institute works with esteemed scientists and that their evidence should be heard.

"You cannot teach students how to think if you don't present both sides of a scientific issue," Leo said. "Wouldn't you think that the body that has the responsibility of what's in the classroom would look at all scientific arguments?"

State board member Bob Craig said he had heard of the Intelligent Design theory.

"I'm going in with an open mind about everybody's presentation," Craig said. "I need to hear their presentation before I make any decisions or comments.

State board member Mary Helen Berlanga said she wanted to hear from local scientists.

"If we are going to discuss scientific information in the textbooks, the discussion will have to remain scientific," Berlanga said. "I'd like to hear from some of our scientists in the field on the subject."


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: crevolist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 3,641-3,6603,661-3,6803,681-3,700 ... 4,381-4,387 next last
To: Aric2000
Wonder why that is?

Just an amazing coincidence.......

;-)

3,661 posted on 07/16/2003 5:27:27 PM PDT by longshadow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3660 | View Replies]

To: Aric2000
My theory is ...

evolutionists have to dumb down other people's children ---

to keep their own from looking so ... weird --- bad !

Leave no child ahead - free ... thinking - living for themselves --- make them govt 1984 ready - compliant !

That's why you can be our overlords -- us slaves !
3,662 posted on 07/16/2003 5:30:57 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3660 | View Replies]

To: longshadow; Aric2000
Just an amazing coincidence.....

I donno. It's such a puzzle. During the day, the thread is fine. In the evening, somehow it just falls apart. If only there were some clues. Then maybe the management and the mods could figure out the source of the problem. But it's just so difficult ...

3,663 posted on 07/16/2003 5:53:02 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Idiots are on "virtual ignore," and you know exactly who you are.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3661 | View Replies]

To: Aric2000
How did this nonsense last so long? I tried to read through some of this crap...but I've had enough. What are we bitching about today? No wonder the amount of scientists and engineers in school has dropped for men. By the looks of this thread you would think that a boat load of French whiners invaded FreeRepublic.

We are doomed to becoming beholden to foreign labor if we can't put out quality scientific thinkers. I see it at work now. Our schools are so afraid of offending someone they are redefining logic and reason. We are putting out a bunch of pseudo-intellectual pansies.
3,664 posted on 07/16/2003 5:58:35 PM PDT by I got the rope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3660 | View Replies]

To: I got the rope
the sky is falling placemaker !
3,665 posted on 07/16/2003 6:01:44 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3664 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry
Virtual amazing ignorance placemaker !
3,666 posted on 07/16/2003 6:03:21 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3663 | View Replies]

To: f.Christian
Good. Let it fall. The bible said things were going to get bad before HE came back.

Preaching a false doctrine on your part just proves the Bible is right on track.
3,667 posted on 07/16/2003 6:04:45 PM PDT by I got the rope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3665 | View Replies]

To: f.Christian
Night shift on and the feelin' is queasy placemarker.
3,668 posted on 07/16/2003 6:07:02 PM PDT by VadeRetro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3665 | View Replies]

To: I got the rope
God is not the author of confusion - anarchy ...

that's the evo satan anti christ crowd ---

the pot they are always trying to boil - brew here !
3,669 posted on 07/16/2003 6:07:31 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3667 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro
It's midnight basketball time for the trolls. Keeps 'em occupied and out of serious mischief.
3,670 posted on 07/16/2003 6:14:45 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Idiots are on "virtual ignore," and you know exactly who you are.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3668 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry
Virtual amazing eternal uninterrupted ignorance placemaker !


3,671 posted on 07/16/2003 6:18:29 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3670 | View Replies]

To: f.Christian
What are you confused about? Where is your dilemma? God is not trying to trick you. You believe He is the Creator, but you wish to ignore his creations. Pseudo-Christians like you are deceptive and wish to take away God's message in Genesis to further What?
When is the last time you have even tried to share the Gospel with your brothers at FreeRepublic or even tried to share the beauty of his message?
You do nothing but add confusion when there is none. Conflict, distortion, and ridicule is your M.O.
I suggest that if you can't add anything meaningful to the discussion that you leave your keyboard, go outside, and pray for wisdom.
3,672 posted on 07/16/2003 6:19:06 PM PDT by I got the rope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3669 | View Replies]

To: I got the rope
Indeed we are, and the fruit of their labors is out here for all to see.

This is one of the reasons that I homeschool, I will not allow the schools to dumb my children down.

It's a lot like socialism, instead of fly to your limits, it's stay with the lowest common denominator.

So, the dumber the children in a class, the slower the learning of the smart ones, and as the parents get dumber, so do the children.

I and my wife had a huge advantage, we were put through private school, and my mother is a certified teacher, so we try and keep up with the kids, if you give the kids a goal to reach for, they will get there, and love doing it.
3,673 posted on 07/16/2003 6:19:11 PM PDT by Aric2000 (If the history of science shows us anything, it is that we get nowhere by labeling our ignorance god)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3664 | View Replies]

To: Aric2000
evolution is socialism

as for the pretend mystery, think again...
3,674 posted on 07/16/2003 6:20:29 PM PDT by ALS (http://designeduniverse.com Featuring original works by FR's finest . contact me to add yours!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3673 | View Replies]

To: I got the rope
Padded walls - straight jacket ...

and you're still rolling around seeing - hearing things ---

hurting yourself !
3,675 posted on 07/16/2003 6:25:04 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3672 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry
Remember to flush out your prostate tonight bump.
3,676 posted on 07/16/2003 6:28:26 PM PDT by VadeRetro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3670 | View Replies]

To: I got the rope
JR ...

How about abortion? Or Guns? Or National Security? Or homsosexual marriage? Or homosexual perversion forced down your kids throats? Or God being ruled unconstitutional? Or subjection to environmentalists? Or subjection to the United Nations? Or constitutional amendment by the courts? Or wealth redistribution through taxation? Or tax increases rather than tax cuts. Or national defense, etc, etc, etc. If you don't see any differences between the two parties standing on these issues then you are totally clueless.

3,677 posted on 07/16/2003 6:31:08 PM PDT by f.Christian (evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3672 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro
Thanks for the ... ah, tip. In for a penny, in for a (ahem) pound.
3,678 posted on 07/16/2003 6:32:13 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Idiots are on "virtual ignore," and you know exactly who you are.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3676 | View Replies]

To: js1138
Here are a couple sites to help you.

Process of petrification

or whether they have done any experiments to see how long it takes organic material to fossilize, but I never get an answer

Not Long

3,679 posted on 07/16/2003 6:33:45 PM PDT by bondserv (Alignment is critical.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3519 | View Replies]

To: bondserv
And it's a convenient thing for us that silification doesn't take long. It helps preserve fossils for our studies. By the way, silification is not used to determine the age of the fossil.
3,680 posted on 07/16/2003 6:45:26 PM PDT by Nebullis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3679 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 3,641-3,6603,661-3,6803,681-3,700 ... 4,381-4,387 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson