Science

The last time I had an opportunity to attend a session led by Bev Bos was in the early 90s. I was a preschool teacher and our Florida NAEYC chapter sponsored a session. I remember like it was yesterday the excitement I felt being in a room with this amazing woman! The session was on a Saturday and the following day I spent outdoors and at the hardware store gathering items for school the following day. I simply could not wait! Bev is still as inspiring, encouraging, and rejuvenating as I remember!

In 2000 or so, Texas invented "Integrated Physics and Chemistry," a reinvention of what some folks called "High School Physical Science." It was a huge change, because it required more content than the traditional H.S. Physical Science course, so a number of publishers had to scramble to create new materials for the course. It was also invented to allow students to get content from physics and chemistry before the high school TAKS science exam, rather than relying in 11th grade on what they remember from 6th grade. It also covered concepts kids might need before biology in the 10th grade.

One of my personal favorite topics is arts in education. Or, more specifically, arts AS education. My first encounter with someone utilizing the arts as a way to promote the "core subjects" was when I met a graduate student at NYU. She was writing her thesis on black holes and how their construction was inherently linked to waves which we hear as sound waves. Specifically, she was studying physics and music. Together.

The answer to "are they dropped or not?" is yes and yes, meaning the real answer is too complicated for a one-word answer. I've heard so much misinformation about this topic, that I'm going to try to set the record straight. It's a complex and twisted tale of unintended consequences and having too many cooks (Legislature + State Board of Education + local districts and their boards) with fingers in the broth. So bear with me, because to understand this properly, you have to start with a seemingly unrelated topic: Texas' three-tier system of high school graduation requirements...

12:18: While waiting for the agency to do some calculations, the Board moved to consider Proclamation 2012 for science materials. The Agency says that budget issues now make it not feasible to start working on this when there's hardly enough money for Proclamations 2010 and 2011.

This afternoon, the Texas Senate finally held its debate on McLeroy's nomination to chair the Texas Board of Education. Because a 2/3 majority is required, he lost on a 19-11 party line vote, amid much discussion about whether he was being punished for his faith or for being a divisive leader. Speculation about who the governor will appoint next to chair the board is rampant at the Texas Education Agency and the state Capitol...

Today's meeting of the Board of Education whipped along pretty smoothly and quietly, but don't let the calm deceive you: at least four significant issues came up that will impact everyone (publishers, etc.) bringing content before the Board...

Last night, when McElroy's nomination didn't make it out of the TX Senate nominations committee, it pretty much sealed his tenure as Chairman of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE). Without confirmation by the full Senate, he automatically is removed as chair (but not as a member) when the Lege adjourns on June 1st. But what happens next...?

If you've got 2 and a half hours to spare, and you want to hear for yourself (rather than the summaries provided in my previous posts) you can download the RealPlayer file.
McElroy's part begins at about 1:20:00, and the skewering by Senators Shapleigh and Watson beings in earnest at about 1:56:15. It goes on for a couple of hours more after that...

After the lengthy questioning, it was time to take testimony from those who'd registered to speak. In some ways, what followed was a microcosm of past Board meetings: six witnesses, including perennial testifiers Texas Freedom Network's Kathy Miller and SMU's Ronald Wetherington decrying the Board's refusal to heed scientific experts and Chairman Don's role in particular; and Board Member Ken Mercer and Free Market Foundation's Jonathan Saenz speaking long and hard to defend the Chairman.