There are some rotten things going on in within Texas education right now. I am sure many of you have heard some or all of this. I will just provide a bullet summary of the history here. Then I'll provide resources to do something about it. I'll be linking extensively to our friend the Bad Astronomer's blog to back up the points of history. Basically because he did a great job of covering it and it saves me a ton of time and writing.
The very short story is that it looks like Texas is trying to put Intelligent Design in the science class.
So, what can you do as a Texas citizen? Glad you asked. Please contact your state representative, your state senator, your district SBoE member, and the governor. Tell them you are mad. Tell them that ID is religion and not science (as established in a Federal Court). Tell them a neutrality policy between Evolution and ID has the effect of promoting religion. Tell them religion doesn't belong in science class.
Or just simply tell them no, but do contact them. Numbers count in this game. Please, tell them what is on your mind.
To find your state representative:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/faq.htm#who_rep
To find your state senator (bottom of page):
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/Members.htm
To find your SBoE member:
District Map: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/districts.html
Member Contacts: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/members.html
Texas Governor Rick Perry
phone: (800) 252-9600 (Citizen Opinion Hotline)
phone: (512) 463-2000 (main switchboard for governor)
contact page
The TEA Commissioner is Robert Scott
e-mail: commissioner@tea.state.tx.us
phone: (512) 463-9734
Print this out or forward links to your friends and neighbors. Help get the word.
The very short story is that it looks like Texas is trying to put Intelligent Design in the science class.
- Back in July 2007, the governor appointed a creationist to head the State Board of Education
- A little more on this Don McLeroy from August
- Last month, the TEA pushed out the state’s director of science curriculum for supporting.... evolution
- And more on Chris Comer's exit
- And a summary of NY Times article (mainly so you don't have to register)
- And an Op ED summarized by PZ Myers at Pharyngula (he's been covering ALL of this as well)
So, what can you do as a Texas citizen? Glad you asked. Please contact your state representative, your state senator, your district SBoE member, and the governor. Tell them you are mad. Tell them that ID is religion and not science (as established in a Federal Court). Tell them a neutrality policy between Evolution and ID has the effect of promoting religion. Tell them religion doesn't belong in science class.
Or just simply tell them no, but do contact them. Numbers count in this game. Please, tell them what is on your mind.
To find your state representative:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/faq.htm#who_rep
To find your state senator (bottom of page):
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/Members.htm
To find your SBoE member:
District Map: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/districts.html
Member Contacts: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/members.html
Texas Governor Rick Perry
phone: (800) 252-9600 (Citizen Opinion Hotline)
phone: (512) 463-2000 (main switchboard for governor)
contact page
The TEA Commissioner is Robert Scott
e-mail: commissioner@tea.state.tx.us
phone: (512) 463-9734
Print this out or forward links to your friends and neighbors. Help get the word.