Proposed Texas Standards Censor Sound Science | The Institute for Creation Research

Proposed Texas Standards Censor Sound Science

A recommendation for new science curriculum standards up for state board consideration in Texas would not require that students be taught about the weaknesses in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.1

The proposed standards, drafted by committees of teachers and academics, also seek to bar teachers from discussing creationism or intelligent design in biology classes when the subject of evolution is being taught. So far, Louisiana is the only state to pass legislation that includes an academic freedom measure to protect teachers from persecution or termination when they discuss possible controversial subjects in the classroom.2

Conservative groups fear that approval of the recommendation would lead to the censoring of teachers who want to examine both the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories, especially neo-Darwinian evolution. By not allowing discussion of the weaknesses in this theory, Texas students would become the unassuming victims of lying by omission, hardly a practice that promotes critical thinking.

The state Board of Education will review and vote on the standards early next year. A majority of the members have already expressed support for the current practice of covering theories’ weaknesses as well as strengths. The Board’s Chairman, Don McLeroy (R-College Station), told the Dallas Morning News he will oppose the new recommendation.

The Morning News quoted Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network as saying, “It’s time for state board members to listen to classroom teachers and true experts instead of promoting their own personal agendas.”1 Yet she and other supporters fail to acknowledge that by advocating only the pros and not the cons of neo-Darwinian evolution, they are in essence the ones “promoting their own personal agendas.”

When states around the country failed to uphold the religious and academic freedoms of students and teachers in public schools, many conservatives turned to Christian private schools and home schooling. Perhaps it’s time that secular evolutionists start private institutions of their own and stop trying to illegally impose their skewed standards in taxpayer-funded public schools.

References

  1. Stutz, T. Proposed curriculum standards in Texas would give Darwin a boost. The Dallas Morning News. Posted on DallasNews.com on September 23, 2008, accessed September 25, 2008.
  2. Dao, C. Louisiana the Only State to Promote Academic Freedom (So Far). ICR News. Posted on www.icr.org July 23, 2008, accessed September 25, 2008.

* Ms. Dao is Assistant Editor.

Article posted on September 29, 2008.

The Latest
NEWS
Valued Longtime ICR Employee Mary Smith Retires
Mary Morris Smith, an employee of the Institute for Creation Research for many years, has retired. The second daughter of ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris...

NEWS
Man of Science, Man of God: George Washington Carver
Who:  George Washington Carver What: Father of Modern Agriculture When: 1864 or 1865 – January 5, 1943 Where: Diamond Grove,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Scopes Monkey Trial: A Battle of Worldviews
Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, and its statue of William Jennings Bryan Image credit: M. Mueller The Scopes Monkey...

ACTS & FACTS
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Unsung Heroes of the Genome
Evolutionary theory holds that all living things came about through random, natural processes. So conventional scientists believe the genome has developed...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 1: Tiny Clues of a Grand Picture
Yosemite National Park in California is a sure source of stunning scenery. It’s no wonder that American naturalist John Muir persuaded President...

ACTS & FACTS
From Inference to Theory: A Common Design Case Study
Without a doubt, humans, chimpanzees, and other organisms share similar features. An early explanation was that these features reflect similar designs...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: T. rex
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Entering By The Door
Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Mission in Fiji
Michele discusses pages from Explore the World with boys at an orphanage Image credit: Brian Thomas In 2024 my wife, Michele,...

NEWS
Distant Galaxies Continue to Challenge the Big Bang
Recently, a team of scientists released data collected from 800,000 galaxies at different distances from Earth, all lying within the same narrow slice...