March 2009

Texas and Evolution: What did it all mean?

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 22:15
in

For three days, from March 25 through March 27 of 2009, the Texas State Board of Education argued about their final draft of science standards, with all sorts of amendments and last-minute changes and appeals to outside experts of varying stripes. But what did it all mean? There were far greater stakes than merely the science requirements for a decade's worth of Texas' schoolchildren...

The Final Showdown, part 3: Earth/Space Science

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 14:15
in

Now that the worst of the amendments have been taken out of biology and replaced with compromises, the Board turns to the other contentious one: Earth/Space Science, which contains one TEKS with fuzzy language about "differing theories about the origin of the universe," and another that calls for teaching on the insufficiency of common descent to explain the fossil record. Hidden in this apparently arcane argument is a most peculiar development...

The Final Showdown, part 2: Biology

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 12:41
in

Vice Chair Lawrence Allen (D-Houston) moved to strike all of McElroy's amendments from January ("sufficiency and insufficiency..."), and one of Terri Leo's from yesterday. After McElroy's epic speech, a lengthy discussion ensues. In the end, compromise substitutes are made in place of both McElroy's key amendments, but he proclaims himself pleased nonetheless. Terri Leo's amendment survives its recall vote...

The Sayings of Chairman Don

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:06
in

When Vice Chair Lawrence Allen (D-Houston) moved to strike McElroy's amendments to Biology from January, McElroy handed off the gavel to Secretary Terri Leo (R-The Faction, Spring), so they'd be on equal footing as mere Board Members. I got down as much of McElroy's impassioned speech as I could, for it was quite a ride...

Interlude: minor changes to Middle School

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 10:47
in

Although there were no amendments to grades 6, 7, and 8 yesterday, at some point late in the evening, a couple of science teachers bent Barbara Cargill's (R-The Faction, The Woodlands) ear about some clarifications. Others also have minor changes this morning as well...

The Final Showdown, part 1

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 10:35
in

Despite all of yesterday's amendments, it's today's votes that are final. (In local paper, this morning Chairman McLeroy is quoted as telling the reporter "Friday, anything can happen.") The proceedings get kicked off with an attempt to put some sort of "both sides" language into every science course from 3rd grade on up, with some parliamentary wrangling...

With it clear that "Strengths and Weaknesses" will never get the 8 votes it needs, Cynthia Dunbar (R-The Faction, Richmond) moves for some compromise language.

Other Amendments for HS (non-controversial)

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 18:23
in

The Board did go after other amendments to high school courses today, but they were mostly a matter of tidying up loose ends, and not adding in ideology...

Gail Lowe (R-The Faction, Lampasas) changes Aquatic Science 3F—“explore and describe the contribution of scientists”—change to “research and describe.”

CHEMISTRY

Amendments for ESS: The Faction Strikes Back II!

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 17:09
in

The Earth/Space Science (ESS) course is a new one for Texas high schools. In January, McElroy and others added some scientifically iffy amendments to this course as well (fossil record and big bang could come up in the course, you know...) Efforts today to remove them failed, and more iffiness gets added...

Bob Craig (R-Lubbock, but NOT The Faction) tried to reverse 5 BAD AMENDMENTS from January (two of which are significant). [But they all fail, as described below]

TEKS 4 replace “differing theories” with “information.”

Amendments for Biology: The Faction Strikes Back!

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 15:55
in

When they get to Biology, The Faction trots out a whole host of scientifically iffy amendments to make up for the defeat of "Strengths and Weaknesses." They pretty much get their way...

Gail Lowe (R-The Faction, Lampasas) amends to add a TEKS (3F) to “Research and describe the history of biology and the contributions of scientists.” This is no big deal, and passes on a voice vote.

Amendments: Kinder through 5th

Submitted by Mark Grayson on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 14:49
in

With "Strengths and Weaknesses" out for good, Chairman McElroy had the Board take up all amendments in grade-level, course order. In elementary science, the Board voted to get rid of some of the aquariums and terrariums, slightly lightening the heavy equipment mandate that is enshrined in the new TEKS. Details follow...