Texas became the seventh state last week to encourage students to "embrace open and critical discussion in the science classroom." The new wording of the policy allows students more flexibility in their discussion of such topics as Darwin's theory of evolution.
"Texas has sent a clear message that evolution should be taught as a scientific theory open to critical scrutiny, not as a sacred dogma that can't be questioned," said John West of the Discovery Institute of Seattle who argued before the Texas Board of Education.
The new policy for Texas science classes states that, "In all fields of Science; analyze, evaluate and critique scientific explanations of science by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations so as to encourage critical thinking by the student." Before the recent change, the policy stated that students would simply discuss the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific explanations, rather than "examine all sides."
An original change that just removed the language calling for the study of the "strengths and weaknesses " of scientific explanations, had been praised by pro-evolution groups, but a flood of calls and e-mails to the school board apparently led to the language being changed rather than eliminated. [TexasLegislativeUpdate.
(from FotF's Pastor's Weekly Briefing)
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