by April Castro, The Associated Press
excerpt from The Dallas Morning News
Tensions over how evolution is taught simmered Wednesday as the State Board of Education held the final hearing in the process of adopting new classroom science curriculum standards. Activists took advantage of the last opportunity to testify on the proposed standards, which would drop a 20-year-old rule that requires "strengths and weaknesses" of all scientific theories to be taught.
Critics say the requirement is used to undermine the theory of evolution in favor of religious teachings.
The standards adopted by the board will be in place for a decade and will dictate how textbook publishers cover the topic.
Even before the hearing started, protesters and activists gathered nearby, fervently arguing their sides of the debate.
"My grandfather was not a monkey!" one woman shouted at a crowd before the meeting began.
Most scientists agree that weaknesses in the theory of evolution are flimsy at best. But proponents of retaining the rule complain that the standard will apply to all scientific theory while the political debate is focused on evolution.
"I'm very concerned that some of the State Board of Education members will weaken every discipline of science if they remove the strengths and weaknesses language," said Don McCall, an engineer and president of the Leander school board.
A panel of science teachers had recommended that the language be dropped. Board members are expected to propose amendments to try to change the proposal before they vote today. Read the full article here.