Science Textbooks Publishers Stand Up To Creationists: We Don’t Publish Fiction

[Agnosticsherbet]

Science Textbooks Publishers Stand Up To Creationists: We Don’t Publish Fiction
In a positive step for a flagging American education system, Texas science textbook publishers are keeping creationism out of their books. All 14 of the publishers who make science textbooks for classrooms in Texas have decided to exclude mention of religiously motivated “creation science” theories.

The Texas Freedom Network, a nonpartisan organization whose goal it is to promote religious freedom and civil liberties, has reviewed the latest textbooks written for Texas students and submitted to the Texas Education Agency and reports that the textbooks have resisted political pressure to include creationism or Intelligent Design when teaching about the subject of evolution.

In a statement by the Texas Freedom Network, they report their findings:

Materials submitted to the Texas Education Agency and examined by the Texas Freedom Network and university scientists show that publishers are resisting pressure to undermine instruction on evolution in their proposed new high school biology textbooks for public schools. “This is a very welcome development for everyone who opposes teaching phony science about evolution in our kid’s public schools,” Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said. “Texas parents can applaud these publishers for standing up to pressure from politicians and activists who want to put their personal beliefs ahead of giving Texas students a 21st-century science education.” - See more at: http://www.classwarfareexists.com/science-textbooks-publishers-stand-up-to-creationists-we-dont-publish-fiction/#sthash.2ZQGPF6e.dpuf

This is a great step for education. I applaud fighting back against a state government attempting to force religion into education.

[Aldo Leopold]

1. On a circuitously related note

there was a good piece in yesterday's NY Times about Popular Science disabling comments on its online articles.

Ye gods, I hope this signals a trend toward greater appreciation for science in this country.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

2. happily kicking!

almost as good as kicking a repuke in the nutz

[nolabear]

3. Hallelujah and amen!

When the Lord passed out he brains, SOMEBODY was paying attention.

[Xyzse]

4. Thank goodness.

[BlueJazz]

5. That news made my day.

[edhopper]

6. How long before

the yahoos that run the Texas Ed. system find a good conservative billionaire, like the Kochs, to buy a textbook company just so they can publish a science book with some creationist bullshit?

[longship]

9. Sorry, that won't work.

The public school text books must abide by the standards.

However, it is more likely that somebody will fund a charter school or private school funding bill that would allow creationist text books (which already exist -- yes, they're dumb).

[edhopper]

19. Pack the School Board

or what ever quasi-governmental group that sets the standards in Texas, and put creationism in the curriculum.
QED.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

21. I'm sure a plan for that is in the works. Packing schol boards with RW shills has been a process

they've been working on and succeeding at over a number of years. Local politics is so important!

[st17011864200074656]

10. or

they'll follow Louisiana and North Carolina in voucherizing public education so that kids can be sent to private religious schools and still be taught creationism; the mind warping and rank hypocrisy of course comes in the realization that the vouchers could also be used for those pesky Muslims children to be sent to Islamic schools, perish the thought.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. Good.

Last thing we need is to dumb down our kids for the 21st century. They need to know science and math, not fiction, woo and blather-babble.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. "The Texas Freedom Network, a nonpartisan organization"

[longship]

12. The Texas Freedom Network is partnering with the scientists.

They are the ones who get a large amount of credit for this victory for science.

Just so people know that. And yes, they are non-partisan. (Not that many Republicans today would support them.)

R&K this thread.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. You can't BE "nonpartisan" on this stuff in Texas as truth has become partisan....

We are talking about the people who cover their kids ears and rush them out of the room when Bill Nye says the moon reflects light from the sun.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

11. you meant to tell me that Cruz.....

.....didn't spring spontaneously to life?

[lastlib]

18. no, he's visible proof that some of the slimy stuff didn't make the jump......

[LuckyLib]

13. It's about damned time. The publishers have been kissing the ass of the Texas

education establishment long enough, since the sheer number of books purchased by them drove the wagon of content. Maybe someone told them that other states/communities will fight back and refuse to adopt those fantasy texts, and the $$$ would start to slip away. You know it's money driven, certainly not out of respect for science!

[Rain Mcloud]

14. So when do we start standing up to the gunatics in the NRA?

Low wage conservatives?
Trickledown/supply side economics?
Fight them there so we dont have to fight them here?
Deficits don't/do matter?
The list of wacko republican lies goes on forever,but i digress.

[cab67]

15. As a scientist who works with biological evolution...

....this is very welcome news indeed.

[mgardener]

16. Religion,

belongs in church, not in the classroom

[ck4829]

20. Excellent.

[BootinUp]

22. I guess the Kochs will just have to buy the publishers. nt