Questioning “Intelligent Design” in Texas? You’re Fired.
State science curriculum director resigns: Move comes months before comprehensive curriculum review
The state‚Äôs director of science curriculum has resigned after being accused of creating the appearance of bias against teaching intelligent design. Comer was put on 30 days paid administrative leave shortly after she forwarded an e-mail in late October announcing a presentation being given by Barbara Forrest, author of ‚ÄúInside Creationism‚Äôs Trojan Horse,‚Äù a book that says creationist politics are behind the movement to get intelligent design theory taught in public schools. Forrest was also a key witness in the Kitzmiller v. Dover case concerning the introduction of intelligent design in a Pennsylvania school district. Comer sent the e-mail to several individuals and a few online communities, saying, ‚ÄúFYI.‚Äù Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, which sent the original e-mail to Comer announcing the event, said Comer‚Äôs situation seems to be a warning to agency employees…. ‚ÄúThis just underscores the politicization of science education in Texas,‚Äù Scott said. ‚ÄúIn most states, the department of education takes a leadership role in fostering sound science education. Apparently TEA employees are supposed to be kept in the closet and only let out to do the bidding of the board.‚Äù
I can and do respect an individual’s right to hold whatever religious and moral beliefs they deem appropriate. This is still (nominally, at least) a free country, and freedom of religion is still a Constitutionally-guaranteed right. Sadly, freedom FROM religion doesn’t enjoy the same protection…and few states boast more people willing to force their version of Christianity on others than Texas, where ignorant, self-absorbed and astoundingly arrogant self-righteousness is a cottage industry.
When schools are required to present Intelligent Design as a legitimate, scientifically valid theory, teachers are reduced to participating in the wholesale propagandization of students. If uber-righteous zealots in Texas get their way, public schools will become the taxpayer-funded equivalent of re-education camps. Who needs critical thinking when faith will suffice? Who needs reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic when you have the Bible? Pretty scary stuff….
In most states, the state education agency is expected to determine the best and most effective ways to educate children to face and meet the challenges of the future. These folks recognize that the key to success is a well-educated and intellectually nimble work force. In Texas, however, the Texas Christianization Education Agency is still in thrall to the Christian Taliban elements that constitute a pronounced majority of the Texas Republican Party. Education is viewed as necessary only insofar as required to create good, obedient, and reliably Republican Christians far more capable of reaction than rational, critical thought.
Chris Comer couldn’t even be reasonably be described as a rebel…unless having a conscience and recognizing that education is about children, not religious indoctrination passes for rebellion among Rght-wing zealots. Intelligent Design is not science; it’s Christian doctrine dressed up in the language of objective science. In reality, it’s just one more insidious weapon employed by those who believe the separation of Church and State is anti-Christian. Comer’s situation merely points up just how little the Texas Education Agency is concerned with education. We’re talking about publicly-funded schools which, if these zealots have their way, will be turned into Sunday Schools more concerned with fostering faith and blind obendience than critical, creative thinking.
What Would Jesus Do? I think he’d be kicking some serious @$$. These knuckle-dragging troglodytes are as much about the true meaning of the teachings of Jesus Christ as Ted Bundy was about long-term relationships. Of course, this is Texas we’re talking about…and things look quite a bit different there- one’s man’s blind obedience is another’s recognition of the natural order of things, I suppose. Why think when you can react? My heart goes out to the children of Texas, who quite frankly deserve better than adults who want nothing more than to create obedient Christian soldiers who will unquestioningly fight the Good Fight…if trying to force a dominionist theocracy on Americans can even be called “good”.
How much do I miss Texas? When it comes to this sort of thing, not nearly as much as you might think….
what an idiot
..."accused of creating the appearance of bias against teaching intelligent design"
Well, I sure as hell hope that, as a professional educator, she had a bias against teaching intelligent design.
The State Board of Education has, for years, been led by a bunch of pseudo-religious nutcases and our rep, Davide Bradly has consistently been one of the worst loonies on the Board.
Morons.
Uh..."morons" would be a serious upgrade, Dennis. These folks ought to check their knuckles for scabs.
I know. I used to call people like that "mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, missing chromosome, know-nothings" and worse, but somebody actually called my minister to complain that I wasn't living up to Unitarian values. I'm trying not to give in to the temptation, even though I think they are total assholes, actually.
David Bradley home schooled his own kids and allegedly didn't even live in this district. He and those other ignorant Christo-fascists on the SBOE are in office because the electorate failed to do their civic duty. Taking over boards of education has been an operational goal of the fanatical Christian right wing for years - and they have largely succeeded because opponents don't want to be called "anti-Christian".
Clearly the SBOE members have a bias against intelligence.
Whatever. I guess we don't miss you either.
I would certainly agree with you that the lessons they are taught in school should not necessarily be that same that they are taught in church. But I have problem when they are in total conflict. This presents confusion for a child trying to learn, and compromises my ability as a parent to teach my kids my relegion.
Without being able to acknowledge some theory of intelligent design, schools are left with only teaching an essentially athiest doctrine.
And that leaves me confused with your position. You call the relegious right a bunch of radicals in the ilk of the taliban, but frankly I read your argument as saying that anyone that believes in a diety that influenced how we are here today is a nutcase. And heck, maybe that is true - but if so that means that the vast majority of Americans, including our founding father's, are just as radical.
Look, I can see someone thinking that elements of the right, including some of my friends in the Texas Republican Party, are a bit out there. But I find the "anti-God" left much more distasteful and threatening.
Whatever - except that there is no "theory" of Intelligent Design, at least not in the scientific use of the word. A theory is supported by facts. There are none in suport of ID.
Believe in any god you wish. I could care less. Lots of people on this earth believe in many of them. But that has nothing to do with science.
Bra. Vo. Right on, 100% correct, yes yes yes. The Texas Republican Party has long since been hijacked by the dominionists and it looks like it's spreading into the TEA. I hate that people think evolution is an 'atheist' doctrine. That's like saying gravity is an atheist doctrine, because it contradicts with what the bible says about falling objects.
The truth is emerging.
This comes from the USAToday article:
"The documents show that Lizzette Reynolds, the agency's senior adviser on statewide initiatives, started the push to fire Comer over the e-mail.
"This is something that the State Board, the Governor's Office and members of the Legislature would be extremely upset to see because it assumes this is a subject that the agency supports," Reynolds said in an e-mail to Comer's supervisors.
Reynolds joined the agency in January and previously worked in the U.S. Department of Education and as a deputy legislative director during George W. Bush's term as governor.
Advocacy groups said the action against Comer was troubling."
So a former Bush administration staffer is apparently behind this, concerned because legislators might think that the Texas Education Agency actually supports education over religious dogma / nonsense dolled up as science.
Sounds very much to me like it is Liz Reynolds who has the problem, not Ms Comer. Wonder is Ms Reynolds is equally concerned that the TEA supports teaching about gravity?
Dennis -
No facts for ID but there are for BB? What are the facts for BB?All this boils down to, is what you have faith. Who/what caused the 'big bang' - don't know. Do not talk about 'facts' when you do not any have them.
John
John - I am not a physicist and I sure as hell doubt that you are one,either. But I do know that the Big Bang and evolution have developed as a result of a rigorous scientific process undertaken by trained and educated people. It is foolish - and, more bluntly, appalling ignorant - to attempt deny their validity.
"Faith" is completely irrelevant to this issue - in fact it is absurd to even use it in the same context. The Book of Genesis is myth, folklore, and allegory. It is proof of absolutely nothing, other than of the ability of millions of people to make complete fools of themselves.
You want to be an ignorant ninny? Go right ahead, be my guest. But trying to teach faith as science is the stuff of the dark ages. And stop trying to use the instruments of government to impose your ignorance on others.
If you cannot win over converts with the power of your beliefs, you shouldn't be able to use the instruments of government to force your beliefs on others. Advantage Dennis.... :O)