I guess this isn’t the kind of science fair you’ve envisioned for your kids

So evolution is not backed by enough empirical data so he wants to teach the fantasy theory that is backed by NO empirical data?

Ho-Kay.

Lack of empirical data….

Fer fuck’s sake, being willfully ignorant on his part does not preclude the fact that there is ample empirical data.
Dude, there’s this thing called the internet, get on it and Google yer heart out.

That should keep him busy, he will inevitably run into some porn and you just may never hear from this guy again.

Presumably, the overwhelming empirical data supporting Creationism will be forthcoming.

The T B of E needs an education. I hope the course is called Lawsuit 101, or “WHAT WE LEARNED IN DOVER.” Gotta smack down these enemies of reason.

Meanwhile, a Florida legislator has filed a senate bill to question evolution:

Florida state senator Stephen Wise has introduced SB 2396, amending a law that is mostly about teaching civics. He makes critical analysis of evolution item (a) and moves all the other items down one letter. The old (a) becomes (b) and so forth. Evolution is evidently the only topic requiring critical analysis. Coincidentally “critical analysis” is code for “teach creationism”. It didn’t work in Ohio once the trick was discovered, but hope springs eternal. By another coincidence Senator Wise recently wanted to teach ID, another code word for creationism.

As I said earlier today, the War on Science is far from over.

It all makes perfect sense when you think about it. Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac but mistakenly killed the dinosaurs instead because it turned out Abraham had been CREATED with really crappy eyesight…

OMG. I guess it’s time to make another “mother-from-hell” phone call to our school system’s superintendent and ask him to confirm they aren’t buying any text books that are going to contain such crap in them.

They don’t want our country to competitive ever again; they want us to be a theocratic failed state. Ugh.

It’s a pity that the government can not threaten to withhold federal aid to Texas, or any other state that promotes religion in the guise of pseudo-science.

Then I suggest a bill to question his sanity.

The Republicans are determine to keep people stupid. Without sufficient numbers of ignorant, uneducated people, they can’t get elected. McLeroy’s method is a good way to do it.

Palin/McLeroy 2012

That’s quite a grin he has. He looks like he has something in mind that’s unpleasant for the viewer.

Next thing they will be teaching is that the earth is flat. That is how Sarah Palin can see Russia from her porch you know

There are people even worse than the Dentist loaning their inconsiderable talents to our SBOE! Remember Cynthia Dunbar, the Regent’s Law Grad?

In support of its endorsement the New York Times stated about Obama that “He has drawn in legions of new voters with powerful messages of hope and possibility and calls for shared sacrifice and social responsibility….” Does this language not disturb us as Americans? If it doesn’t it is simply because we don’t understand the role of civil government from a Biblical World View as our Founders did. “Shared sacrifice and social responsibility” smack of Marxist Communism and redistribution of wealth. This is a completely anti-American, anti-Constitutional view of the role of Federal Government, and Marxism is diametrically opposed to a Biblical World View.

There were five of these backdoor bibleschoolers at last count, with six rational votes standing up for science. That was the last time their was a vote on their anti-Evolution policies.

But we Texans love education! The Republicans, who still have a majority in the Statehouse, back it to the hilt. Consider this from one of our Republican Legislators, Debbie Riddle:

“Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it’s cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It’s not a tender heart. It’s ripping the heart out of this country.”

Great post & scary as all get-out. Thanks for including the link to the TEA. I did actually ask them to write a chapter on the green cheese makeup of the moon & another to explain about Isis flooding the Nile River basin. Hope they’ll come thru.

The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com

While monies can’t be with held Colleges and Universities could refuse to admit candidates with a Texas high school diploma. Or offer probationary standing until they take and pass a remedial Bio course that does teach evolution. Such a course would have to be a perquisite for all hard and social science — Psych, Socio, Anthro, History etc. courses and would have to be completed no later than their first semester (i.e. they could take as a summer course before Freshman year or first semester freshman year but before any 100 level course offerings). Many Colleges have a similar requirement for English reading and writing skills now.

We should just give Texas back to Mexico.

One of the fascinating recurring themes I have to deal with, based on the articles about my post last September on Palin’s creationist and end times beliefs, is wingnut Sarah Palin worshippers who think I just made the incident(s) up.

I ask them, “Why would she believe or behave differently than the vast majority of her fellow congregants at the Wasilla Assembly of God?” That stops the smarter or more knowledgeable wingnuts in their tracks.

The whole package these people represent can be fought in the courts. It is expensive and time-consuming. But, given a fair hearing in court, our side beats the creationists every fucking time.

just……………oy

Even in courts stacked with Bushies?

They’ve got enough problems.

Being in Texas, I find reading more about this board extremely depressing.
I had hoped the creationists had been defeated, as they seemed to be earlier this year.

And as usual, the media take a “neutral” stance in reporting the conflicts: when the language arts teachers were trying to get the curriculum changed the reporting was so “he said, she said”, with neutral terms, that I couldn’t really tell what either side’s positions were. Still don’t know exactly what was adopted, or what was rejected.

I didn’t know till reading that link above that Bradley’s kids were home-schooled.

And I can’t really support taking action against the poor kids unlucky enough to be Texans during these people’s rule.
It wouldn’t do any good, anyway. Just look at their counterparts in Congress – they simply refuse to admit that this “recesion” is different, and come up with their usual great ideas, like a spending freeze, or holding up budget passage, with no acknowledgment of reality.
Punishing Texas grads would have no effect on them whatsoever.

I would prefer appointment over election to such boards, as voters never know much about these things – but then we need better governors to do the appointing, obviously.

hopefully, with time and reason, the Bushie court appointees will become extinct.

Awk!
Remember, Molly Ivins and Ann Richards were Texans born and raised. Not everybody here is a cretin, please!

You might consider joining the Texas Freedom Network. We are holding a “Lobby Day” at the Capitol Tuesday. The newsletter will keep you current about the happenings in the world of Texas education.

Thanks for defending the States honor!

Sounds good – I will check it out.
Tuesday I’m going to be in Maryland, but anything anyone can do to defeat these crazies is ok w/ me.

Brilliant, Hugh. That’s a piece of legislative text begging for inclusion in a future Omnibus bill (or the like).

Stirling Newberry upstairs trying once again to explain a piece of the economic puzzle to idiots like me.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry … “is comfortable with current law and supports abstinence programs,” his spokeswoman, Allison Castle, said

from the TFN blog.
Sigh. Bangs head…again.

I signed the petition, nonplussed – unfortunately, I literally do not have the amount of the membership fee in my bank account at the moment–every dime is in the plane ticket.
I’m really sorry the lobbying day this week – I would have loved to be part of that.

Yikes…he has an uncanny resemblance to the BTK killer.

We live in N Tx and my husband and I are seriously talking about homeschooling our 13 year old next year. His school is filled with children that are obviously the result of ultra religious households and he is regularly bullied by those children when he attempts to engage them in discussions about science or religion. He is often provoked physically and while we have had several discussions with the staff we know we can’t expect the staff to “hold his hand” all the time. We feel that 13 is a very fragile age and think that perhaps at least a year “off” so to speak with us teaching him (my husband is an educator) will give him a chance to regain some of his confidence.

For decades I’ve been telling people that Texas and California school boards are the source of your kids’ education, and that they’re stacked with fundies.

And no one paid any attention. It just seemed like such a far-fetched tale.

Makes me want to move back to Texas and run for school board.

Thank you for pointing this out. Textbook publishers are flaccid. Wingnuts and fundies are dramatically more efficient than Democrats at focusing their energies. Win in Texas, get a passle of Lynn Cheneys and Don McElroys on the state board that decides what goes in Texas schoolbooks, and you dictate what goes in most other state schoolbooks, too.

McElroy is proof that Darwin’s theory is about local adaptation, not “progress”.

“All my ex’s live in Texas
and Texas is the place I’d dearly love to be
but all my ex’s live in Texas
and that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee”

Willie Nelson finds Texas acceptable but only with the aid of Magic Mushrooms
Something in the water or the beer.

It would seem that Texas is expanding on Molly Ivin’s old designation as the National Laboratory for Bad Government to also being the National Laboratory for Bad Education. Nice to see they are being consistent.

The guy looks honest to me..honest to goodness retardation. Don’t blame him, he could be in danger..they execute the retarded in Texas.

This dude is entitled to his own opinion but he ain’t entitled to his own facts.

Don’t get so upset over this. Soon the rapture will take all these simpletons away and there will be nothing more to worry about.

There is also the wonderful old broad, Helen Philpott (83) from Texas. If you haven’t come across her blog, here is the link

http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/

Be prepared for fun and bitchy political commentary!