Newswise — Over 50 scientific societies representing hundreds of thousands of American scientists today publicly urged the Texas Board of Education to support accurate science education. The board--dominated by creationists--has been embroiled in a debate over changes to the Texas science standards that could compromise the teaching of evolution.
"Evolution is the foundation of modern biology, and is crucial in fields as diverse as agriculture, computer science, engineering, geology, and medicine," says the signed statement. "We oppose any efforts to undermine the teaching of biological evolution...whether by misrepresenting those subjects or by inaccurately describing them as controversial and in need of special scrutiny."
The scientific organizations signing the statement range from the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Geological Institute, to the Federation of American Scientists and Society for American Archaeology.
The bottom line? "We want the board to support recommendations made by its own committees comprised of educators and scientists," says NCSE executive director Dr. Genie Scott. Adds NCSE Project Director Steven Newton: "The board's actions are the most specific assault I've seen against evolution and modern science to date."
The text of the statement:
A Message to the Texas State Board of Education
The undersigned scientific and educational societies call on the Texas State Board of Education to support accurate science education for all students by adopting the science standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or TEKS) as recommended to you by the scientists and educators on your writing committees.
Evolution is the foundation of modern biology, and is also crucial in fields as diverse as agriculture, computer science, engineering, geology, and medicine. We oppose any efforts to undermine the teaching of biological evolution and related topics in the earth and space sciences, whether by misrepresenting those subjects, or by inaccurately and misleadingly describing them as controversial and in need of special scrutiny.
At its January 2009 meeting, the Texas Board of Education rightly rejected attempts to add language to the TEKS about "strengths and weaknesses" — used in past efforts to undermine the teaching of evolution in Texas. We urge the Board to stand firm in rejecting any such attempts to compromise the teaching of evolution.
At its January 2009 meeting, the Board also adopted a series of amendments to the TEKS that misrepresent biological evolution and related topics in the earth and space sciences. We urge the Board to heed the advice of the scientific community and the experienced scientists and educators who drafted the TEKS: reject these and any other amendments which single out evolution for scrutiny beyond that applied to other scientific theories.
By adopting the TEKS crafted by your expert writing committees, the Board will serve the best educational interests of students in Texas's public schools.
American Anthropological AssociationAmerican Association of Physical AnthropologistsAmerican Association of Physicists in MedicineAmerican Association of Physics TeachersAmerican Astronomical SocietyAmerican Geological InstituteAmerican Institute for Biological Sciences American Institute of PhysicsAmerican Physiological Society American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyAmerican Society for Cell BiologyAmerican Society for Investigative PathologyAmerican Society for Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsAmerican Society of Human GeneticsAmerican Society of Ichthyologists and HerpetologistsAmerican Society of NaturalistsAmerican Society of Plant BiologistsAmerican Society of Plant TaxonomistsAssociation for Women GeoscientistsAssociation of American GeographersAssociation of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology ChairsAssociation of College & University Biology EducatorsAssociation of Earth Science EditorsAssociation of Environmental & Engineering GeologistsBiological Sciences Curriculum StudyBiotechnology InstituteBotanical Society of AmericaClay Minerals SocietyCouncil on Undergraduate ResearchEcological Society of AmericaFederation for American Societies for Experimental BiologyFederation of American ScientistsHuman Biology AssociationInstitute of Human OriginsNational Association of Biology TeachersNational Association of Geoscience TeachersNational Earth Science Teachers AssociationNational Science Teachers AssociationNatural Science Collection AlliancePaleontological SocietyScientists and Engineers for AmericaSociety for American ArchaeologySociety for Developmental BiologySociety for Integrative and Comparative BiologySociety for Sedimentary GeologySociety for the Study of Amphibians and ReptilesSociety for the Study of EvolutionSociety of Economic GeologistsSociety of Systematic BiologistsSociety of Vertebrate PaleontologySouthwestern Association of NaturalistsThe Biophysical SocietyThe Helminthological Society of WashingtonThe Herpetologists' League
CONTACT: Robert Luhn of the NCSE, 510-601-7203, [email protected]
Web site: www.ncseweb.org
For Texas coverage, go to: http://ncseweb.org/news/texas
RSS