The looming education battle in Texas over evolution and creationism moved closer today, with supporters of sound science on the offensive. The Texas Education Agency today posted proposed new science curriculum standards for grades K-12, crafted by teacher work groups, for public schools. As the Texas Freedom Network reports in a press release, the proposed standards remove unscientific language (“strengths and weaknesses”) in the current standards that creationists have abused to attack the science behind evolution. The new standards also include language that would block the teaching of supernatural and religious concepts — such as “intelligent design”/creationism — in public school science classes. From the TFN press release:
The president of the Texas Freedom Network is praising proposed new public school science curriculum standards that put the interests of students above politics in Texas classrooms. The proposed standards are the product of official Texas Education Agency work groups made up of teachers and academics nominated by State Board of Education members.
“These work groups have crafted solid standards that provide a clear road map to a 21st-century science education for Texas students,” TFN President Kathy Miller said. “These common-sense standards respect the right of families to pass on their own religious beliefs to their children while ensuring that public schools give students a sound science education that prepares them to succeed in college and the jobs of the future.”
You can read the full press release here.
