It's about time that the Texas School Board joined the rest of the world in the 21st century. On July 22nd, the Texas School Board unanimously approved scientifically accurate biology textbook supplements that teach evolution and exclude any creationism material. In the past, conservatives in Texas have pushed a creationism agenda that would at least offer 'intelligent design' as an alternative to evolution in biology literature. In 2009, a heavily Republican Texas School Board controversially left the teaching of evolution somewhat open-ended and encouraged the "debate over the veracity of evolution science." Just recently, the unanimous vote by the school board designated $60 million to be spent on supplemental online textbook materials (because Texas can't afford new textbooks) and basically closed the door on creationism/'intelligent design' as a part of public school biology. This Victory for Evolution will hopefully end the debates on evolution vs. creationism.
This issue is definitely a matter of separation of church and state. Like I mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts, "Separation of church and state is referenced in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and was officially declared by judicial fiat in 1947." While it is perfectly acceptable to inform students of the worlds' religions in social studies, human geography or history classes, asserting that a supernatural being created life as an acceptable solution to a scientific conundrum in public schools is in contradiction to the principles of separation of church and state. Sacred texts such as The Bible are often used to explain the origin of the universe through Genesis, yet more valid scientific explanations such as The Big Bang Theory and Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection have credible roots.
Sarah Weis, president of the Americans United Austin Chapter speaks against religious indoctrination, and said that, "placing materials that include numerous factual errors and unsound science in Texas classrooms not only undermines science education, creates constitutional problems, and threatens the religious liberty of students and their families, but such materials deprive the students of our state from receiving proper science education." This ruling by the Texas School Board is a victory indeed. Now, if only Perry could learn from this before he attends this Saturday's 'The Response.'
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