Texas Wrestles With Science Standards, Evolution

[Are_grits_groceries]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Experts and activists concerned about the way evolution is taught in Texas' public schools made their case before the state's board of education.

Dozens of people, including a six-member expert review panel, lined up to testify as the board considers new science curriculum standards that will be in place for the next decade. The standards adopted also will dictate how publishers handle the topic in textbooks.

The crowd -- as well as the review panel -- was sharply split on the proposal to drop language in the current curriculum that requires teachers to address ''strengths and weaknesses'' of scientific theory.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/22/us/AP-Science-Curriculum-Evolution.html?_r=1

AUSTIN, Tex. — The latest round in a long-running battle over how evolution should be taught in Texas schools began in earnest Wednesday as the State Board of Education heard impassioned testimony from scientists and social conservatives on revising the science curriculum.

The debate here has far-reaching consequences; Texas is one of the nation’s biggest buyers of textbooks, and publishers are reluctant to produce different versions of the same material.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/education/22texas.html

This is very important. Texas is such a huge textbook buyer that whatever is decided here will determine what goes into the books children will be using in any part of the country.
However, there have always been a group of activists pushing their agenda. People just don't pay attention.