An article on ars technica (”New Florida state standards spark nonscientific backlash“) includes several links to helpful sources for keeping up on developments in Florida.
An overview on the Texas standards developments can be found in two articles at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Evolution’s status may be debated by state board, and Proponents want `intelligent [...]
Monthly Archives: January 2008
more info on TX, FL evolution & science standards
January 19, 2008 – 6:30 pm
Ben Stein — EXPELLED
January 18, 2008 – 8:11 pm
Judging from the website, we can expect this movie to be an extraordinary example of the propaganda technique known as the Big Lie. The movie apparently hammers away at a few claims of monstrous misdeeds by the “neo-Darwinists,” with one fabricated example after another.
Hake on responsibility for math/sci education of math/sci teachers
January 18, 2008 – 12:55 pm
The question then becomes: ARE U.S. UNIVERSITY MATH & SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS *PARTIALLY* RESPONSIBLE FOR U.S. STUDENTS’ RELATIVELY POOR SHOWING ON THE PISA-2006 MATH & SCIENCE TESTS? Judging from the appalling low pre-to-post test normalized gains for traditional passive-student courses in astronomy, geoscience, math, and physics, the answer may be YES.
Texas decision on creationist masters degree postponed
January 16, 2008 – 1:38 pm
What is at stake here is not only whether this Creationist program will confer graduate degrees sanctioned by the State of Texas, but whether Texas will be interpreting its approval criteria in such a way that Texas accreditation can no longer serve as a basis for Science Teacher credentials, or for the NCLB requirement for a teacher in every classroom who is “Highly Qualified” in the specific subject they are teaching.
Curriculum Consciousness and Brown v. Board of Education
January 15, 2008 – 12:10 am
Earlier posts here have considered how curriculum is understood as involving more than just the kind of “course of study” for which the word “curriculum” is often used. The consequences of this broader understanding can be seen in the testimony of Dr. Hugh W. Speer, chairman of the Department of Education at the University of Kansas City, in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas.
Creationist degree for science teachers: Trouble for Texas under NCLB?
January 12, 2008 – 9:43 pm
Would Texas state approval of the creationists’ masters degree program in “Science Education” jeopardize its satisfaction of the NCLB requirement for a “Highly Qualified Teacher” in every classroom, and its reciprocity arrangements for teacher qualification in other states?
more on Creation Institute’s “science education” masters degree
January 12, 2008 – 6:43 pm
To get a good overview of the Creation Institute’s “Master’s Degree Program in Science Education” without clicking through the pages on their site, you can visit Ed Darrell’s blog at http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/creationism-school-wants-to-offer-masters-degrees/
House NCLB chair Miller endorses Obama
January 10, 2008 – 9:32 pm
As reported in the San Jose Mercury News,
Veteran legislator Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez [CA], has endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president.
Not mentioned in most of the commentary is that Miller chairs the House committee with jurisdiction over reauthorization of NCLB.
Texas & creation institute’s science education masters degree
January 10, 2008 – 9:27 pm
Paredes said he would make a recommendation Jan. 23, when a committee of the coordinating board is scheduled to consider the matter.
resources on evolution & Florida science standards
January 10, 2008 – 8:24 pm
Developments in Florida have been fast and furious lately. Here are some sites for keeping up:
Florida Science Education Standards Committee (unofficial)
Florida Citizens for Science
the FCS blog (best for continuous updates)
6-y-o Ben Whitson gets Good Citizen Award from City Council
January 10, 2008 – 1:47 pm
This might seem like a departure from the usual posts here, but I can’t resist sharing this news about my nephew Ben.
As reported in the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal:
Ben Whitson, Abiqua School first-grader, was lauded as this month’s Good Citizen Monday at the Salem City Council meeting. He is the second to receive the honor [...]
rich source on TX & creationist institute’s science education masters degree
January 9, 2008 – 5:08 pm
A rich source of materials on these matters is provided by TEXAS CITIZENS FOR SCIENCE.
new evolution book by National Academies (NAS & IM)
January 9, 2008 – 4:00 pm
The new edition of Science, Evolution, and Creationism, by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine, is available for purchase, free download, or free reading online at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11876 .
This is the book criticized recently by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, as reported here.
US Education Secretary: No position on Evolution in Science Standards
January 9, 2008 – 1:02 pm
On MiamiHerald.com, Gary Fineout reports:
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings … stayed as far away as she could from the unfolding controversy over whether the word “evolution” should be included in Florida’s science standards for schools. The State Board of Education is expected to vote on the new science standards next month.
Spellings said it wasn’t [...]
“Design Found, Intelligence Lacking in Latest Attack by Darwinians”
January 8, 2008 – 11:10 pm
Here’s from Tony Perkins’ Washington Update for January 7 2008, on the website of the Family Research Council
Design Found, Intelligence Lacking in Latest Attack by Darwinians
The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine have mounted yet another attack on the scientific theory of intelligent design, publishing an 89-page book titled Science, Evolution, and [...]
TX Bd Jan April 24 to consider creationists’ Science Education masters program
January 4, 2008 – 12:43 pm
note: decision has been postponed from the January to the April meeting.
As reported here, an advisory council to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has recommended state approval for accreditation of a masters degree program in science education to be offered by the Institute for Creation Research.
Today, the Austin American-Statesman is reporting that the Texas [...]
