New Texas science standards creationism-free!

[Diagoras]

Good news, everybody!

http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/1118331.html

But with the "weaknesses" requirement removed and a new definition for science, the new plan makes it clear that supernatural explanations like creationism and intelligent design have no place in public classrooms, said Dan Quinn with the Texas Freedom Network, an Austin-based nonprofit group that opposes religious influence on public education.

 

[paximperium]

Hallelujah praise Zeus!!!

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

I wouldn't be celebrating just yet... this hasn't been approved yet and we should remember what happened to Texas' English Standards.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Mark is right. Just because the draft standards got it right doesn't mean the board members won't keep towing the creationist line. Note this line from the article...

... In the end, the wording in the final draft may not matter because the board is not required to use it. In May, the board threw out a teacher-suggested language arts curriculum in favor of another that some board members have said they had only an hour to read before voting on it.

The state board will hold a second public hearing Jan. 21 and is scheduled to take a final vote on the new science standards in March.

So in the end it may be moot. However, it does put the board on the spot, and publicly so, because if they decide to keep going the anti-science route they can't play the ignorance card. At least then their agenda will be put out in the open.

The January 21st meeting should be interesting.