by Alan I. Leshner
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas), page 11B (Opinion)
December 11, 2007
Special to the Star-Telegram As Texas prepares to reconsider what youngsters statewide should know about science, the forced ouster of science curriculum director Chris Comer of the Texas Education Agency, apparently for standing up for the integrity of science education, stands as both shocking and sad. Even more disturbing, perhaps, is the official explanation for it.
Comer’s forwarding of an e-mail about a lecture by Barbara Forrest, author of the book Inside Creationism’s Trojan Horse, apparently rubbed some TEA higher-ups the wrong way. The agency must, after all, “remain neutral,” according to a memo calling for Comer’s termination. Agency spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe later went on to explain how “there’s been a long-standing policy that the pros and cons of scientific theory must be taught.”
These comments — suggesting that scientific facts based on indisputable physical evidence are somehow subject to debate on nonscientific grounds — are especially troubling in a state known for its innovation and filled with high-quality research universities.
Everyone has a constitutional right to interpret the origins of life based on Christian or any other doctrine. Religious discussion might be perfectly appropriate in theology or philosophy classes.
