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This week, the Texas State Board of Education held hearings to discuss the adoption of new textbooks for Texas schools. Given the SBOE's past history with creationism, all eyes were specifically on the science textbook hearings, to see whether the SBOE would let real science into Texas textbooks.
Going into the hearings, things were looking good for science advocates--despite months of pressure from creationists, publishers refused to yield to their demands, and Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams recommended that all the proposed high school biology textbooks be approved without changes. Prior to the hearings, even the creationist "think tank" spearheading the charge to remove science from Texas textbooks had conceded defeat. But those familiar with the SBOE knew it wasn't time to declare victory until the final vote was over. Well, the final vote happened on Friday afternoon, and we can now decisively say that science prevailed.
The SBOE has approved all proposed science textbooks, none of which undermine evolution or climate change. The late-night hearing on Thursday was filled with suspense, as anti-science advocates made several last-ditch attempts to get the SBOE to reject the proposed science textbooks. The first bump in the road came during discussion of a new biology textbook published by Pearson, when "an anti-evolution activist appointed to serve as an official state reviewer alleged that [the book] included nearly two dozen factual errors."
Several creationist board members attempted to use this as an excuse not to adopt the book, even though the supposed "errors" only came from the one creationist reviewer, and had been thoroughly debunked by actual scientists. Pearson had repeatedly refused to make the changes demanded by creationist textbook reviewer and board members. Even board members found it ridiculous that they were being asked to assess the validity of a science textbook.
Going into the hearings, things were looking good for science advocates--despite months of pressure from creationists, publishers refused to yield to their demands, and Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams recommended that all the proposed high school biology textbooks be approved without changes. Prior to the hearings, even the creationist "think tank" spearheading the charge to remove science from Texas textbooks had conceded defeat. But those familiar with the SBOE knew it wasn't time to declare victory until the final vote was over. Well, the final vote happened on Friday afternoon, and we can now decisively say that science prevailed.
The SBOE has approved all proposed science textbooks, none of which undermine evolution or climate change. The late-night hearing on Thursday was filled with suspense, as anti-science advocates made several last-ditch attempts to get the SBOE to reject the proposed science textbooks. The first bump in the road came during discussion of a new biology textbook published by Pearson, when "an anti-evolution activist appointed to serve as an official state reviewer alleged that [the book] included nearly two dozen factual errors."
Several creationist board members attempted to use this as an excuse not to adopt the book, even though the supposed "errors" only came from the one creationist reviewer, and had been thoroughly debunked by actual scientists. Pearson had repeatedly refused to make the changes demanded by creationist textbook reviewer and board members. Even board members found it ridiculous that they were being asked to assess the validity of a science textbook.
TX Approves Science Textbooks Containing Actual Science
This week, the Texas State Board of Education held hearings to discuss the adoption of new textbooks for Texas schools. Given the SBOE's past history with creationism, all eyes were specifically on the science textbook hearings, to see whether the SBOE would let real science into Texas textbooks.
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