Evolution Debate Heats Back Up Down In Texas

The state board of education in The Lone Star state is set to re-visit the debate over the teaching of evolution in its public schools

Fox News.com is reporting that the Texas State Board of education will be meeting this week for the first time under its conservative new chairwoman appointed by Gov. Rick Perry.  Experts expect a rekindled debate to ignite over teaching evolution and the origin of life in public schools.   Perry, who is considering a run for president and has embraced social conservatives in Texas, named Barbara Cargill chairwoman earlier this month. Cargill, a biology teacher considered to be one of the more conservative board members, disputes the theory of evolution and voted to require that the theory’s weaknesses be taught in classrooms.

From FoxNews.com:

An intense fight over evolution and intelligent design theory in science curriculum put a national spotlight on the 15-member elected board in 2009 when it adopted standards that encourage public schools to scrutinize “all sides” of scientific theory.

The education board is currently considering supplemental online instructional materials that fit under those standards and could be used as early as August when classes resume. The new materials are necessary because the state could not afford to buy new textbooks this year, leaving students to use some that are several years old.

One group, Texans for a Better Science Education, has put out a call to pack Thursday’s public hearing with testimony urging board members to adopt materials that question Charles Darwin’s theory on the origin of life. A vote is scheduled Friday.

Board member Thomas Ratliff suggests anti-evolution groups will find it difficult to rally votes to their side.

“The young-earth, creationist crowd lost a vote in the last election, now they are looking for two votes,” he said.

The board has been known to make controversial moves. It adopted a social studies and history curriculum last year that amended or watered down the teaching of religious freedoms, the civil rights movement, America’s relationship with the United Nations and hundreds of other items. In one of the most significant changes, the board diluted the rationale for the separation of church and state in a high school government class. The ideological debate over the guidelines drew intense scrutiny beyond Texas.

Read the full account here.