Creationism In Texas Public Schools

An anonymous reader writes "Slate reports on new anti-science education coming out of Texas. The state has a charter school system called Responsive Education Solutions, which is publicly funded. Unfortunately, 'it has been connected from its inception to the creationist movement and to far-right fundamentalists who seek to undermine the separation of church and state.' The biology workbook used in these schools actually reads, "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth." It also brings up social Darwinism as if it's an aspect of evolutionary theory and introduces doubt that the Earth is billions of years old. The article continues, 'To get around court rulings, Responsive Ed and other creationists resort to rhetoric about teaching "all sides" of "competing theories" and claiming that this approach promotes "critical thinking." In response to a question about whether Responsive Ed teaches creationism, its vice president of academic affairs, Rosalinda Gonzalez, told me that the curriculum "teaches evolution, noting, but not exploring, the existence of competing theories."' Other so-called education texts being used by the Responsive Ed program teach Western superiority and how feminism forced women to 'turn to the state as a surrogate husband.'"

Comments

Teach all alternate theories

[oodaloop]

I'm fine with that. Teach that the vast overwhelming majority of the world's scientists support the theory of evolution by natural selection, a handful of people support intelligent design, and millions more support unintelligent design, the theory that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. (Disclaimer: I am an ordained Pastafarian Minister)

Re:Teach all alternate theories

[oodaloop]

I object. The Theory of Unintelligent Design states that the universe is full of too many mistakes to have been happened by chance, and that the ceator was clearly drunk or stupid. It is well supported by the evidence. How else do you explain the platypus or Jar Jar Binks?!?

turn to the state as a surrogate husband

[Chrisq]

Other so-called education texts being used by the Responsive Ed program teach Western superiority and how feminism forced women to 'turn to the state as a surrogate husband."

It brings up a whole new connotation when they say "fuck the state"!

In a twist of irony...

[Last_Available_Usern]

Tornado touches down and vaporizes the Responsive Ed corporate headquaters. No hands were lost, but several people were struck by flying Stop signs.

Re:In a twist of irony...

[dkleinsc]

Reminds me of the day that a giant statue of Jesus was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. And of course, the religious nutjobs immediately started raising money to rebuild it.

What I should have done, but didn't, was figure out the frequency of the wireless mike the preacher almost certainly uses during his services, then secretly broadcast this message right after the pitch to donate to the replacement statue "DID YOU NOT GET THE MESSAGE THE FIRST TIME? I THOUGHT I WAS PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT IT!". The reaction of the congregation would probably have been priceless.

Re:Biology workbook

[i kan reed]

Yeah, I know. I sometimes post things I know are untrue just to watch them get modded up as informative or insightful.

Re:Biology workbook

[NatasRevol]

It's a really dark shade of blue.

Re:Not Just Texas

[Anonymous Coward]

These schools are also in Arkansas and Indiana.

You mean occupied Northeast Texas?

Re:Biology workbook

[ThatsDrDangerToYou]

I don't believe that is exclusively an American problem.

But you must admit we are currently the reigning champs of delusion.

Y'all fancy scientists with yer fancy "facts" and whatnot.

Re:Biology workbook

[Anonymous Coward]

That's a good quote!

When these kids grow up, I wonder whether they would be able to get a job at NASA in Houston.

Austronaut:Houston. We've got a problem!
NASA: We are all praying for you. Better repent of your sins while you still have a time. It is God's hands now.

:D

Re:Biology workbook

[ElectricTurtle]

Replace him with Danica McKellar and we'd have an awesome system. :-p