July 23rd, 2009

A few months ago, I wrote a blog regarding Texas' proposition to make it legal to carry weapons on campus (and within that an aside regarding the Governor's comment to secede from the US). Well, Texas is back in the news again! Anyone surprised?

This time, the southern state's Board of Education has decided that Thurgood Marshall and César Chávez don't belong in history books, essentially erasing them from history. Before I begin verbally attacking the board, let's review the history behind these two names for those who don't recall:

Thurgood Marshall - First African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Prior to becoming a judge, he was a lawyer who argued before the Supreme Court and for the victory in Brown v. Board of Education.
Without Him: Segregation could have been an issue for several years after and could have prolonged not only the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court, but the first African American to become president - President Obama.

César Chávez - Texan Mexican American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. Supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers.
Without Him: The UFW and the advancement of workers' rights would have almost certainly been prolonged.

Important, no? Mind you, this is from the same state who decided to weaken science standards on evolution and asked what a character was reading in a comic on a graduation qualifying exam (a newspaper)... and gave us W, but we won't get into that.

Now... let's take a look at the members of the Texas Board of Education's Committee on Instruction and their backgrounds:

(T/C Issue = Thurgood/Chávez Issue)
Republicans
Barbara Cargill, CHAIR - Founder/Director of Wonders of the Woodlands Science Camp, part of the United Methodist Church.
On the T/C Issue: Appointed "expert" Peter Marshall, who believes Amelia Earhart, Thurgood Marshall, and César Chávez should be removed from the Texas curriculum.
Belief on Evolution: Creationist
"...when evidence for universal common ancestry in the fossil record is taught (i.e. scientific strength), then the contradictory evidence showing the huge gaps of missing transitional fossils in the record must also be presented (i.e. scientific weakness). We must educate our students -- not indoctrinate them by letting them hear only one side of an issue."
(Only problem is, gaps in the fossil record isn't a weakness, it just warrants further research.)

Ken Mercer, VICE CHAIR - Master's in Business Administration.
On the T/C Issue: "Quiinn and his allies are attempting to steal the textbook process away from our 24 million Texans and indoctrinate students with their politically revised version of American history."
Belief on Evolution: Intelligent Design
"History is not kind to Darwinian evolutionists who push their theory as truth; no weaknesses and no questions allowed. In this 21st Century, scientific research that opposes academic freedom will never pass any “smell test.”"

Terri Leo - Master's in Educational Administration. Certified teacher for the visually impaired.
On the T/C Issue: "[The] reviewers have properly refocused the studies back to a mastery of the core essential elements of history, government, and geography,” Leo said. “TFN is apparently disappointed by the emphasis on actual knowledge and the de-emphasis on indoctrination."
Belief on Evolution: Creationist
"For the past twenty years, students in Texas have been required “to analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to the strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information.” This standard has been applied to all scientific theories. Pro-Evolution Advocates, however, want evolution to be singled out and taught differently from the other theories. They want evolution to be taught without including the weaknesses of this theory."
(Though she was a member of the board who rejected textbooks for not including weaknesses of evolution; however allowed textbooks that did not include weaknesses of other scientific theories.)

Geraldine Miller - MS in Reading, Real Estate Broker, Certified Academic Language Therapist
On the T/C Issue: Nothing found.
Belief on Evolution: Evolutionist
"There is nothing to stop a teacher from talking about other theories on how the world began, but those should not be the basis for a science class."

Democrats
Lawrence A. Allen, Jr. - Former Middle and High school principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Two Master's Degrees and a Bachelor's degree (areas not listed)
On the T/C Issue: Nothing found.
Belief on Evolution: Evolutionist
Voted against including the "strengths and weaknesses" clause in the 2009 standards.

Does anyone else see a clear bias against the proper teaching of evolution in this mess of officials? Of the five on the Committee on Instruction, 3 are Creationists/Proponents of Intelligent Design. In addition, 1 of those 3 works in a religious science camp, and another is unaffiliated with Education - other than being named to this committee.

How can Texas even assume that work can get done if religion is clouding the minds of their committee persons? Oh wait, their minds are clouded as well - perhaps this wouldn't have happened if Texas' Board of Education had actually done their job earlier and actually taught Science rather than covering up the parts that didn't fit their personal beliefs. Hmm... covering up history that doesn't fit - anyone else finding it odd that the "most American" of the US is turning out to be more like the most "North Korean"?

Just one more reason why Texas is on my "States Not to Teach In Even if I was Paid $1 Million"-List, I suppose.