TX Science Curriculum Director Forced to Resign-Questioned Legitmacy of "Intelligent Design"

[babylonsister]

Texas Science Curriculum Director Forced to Resign After Questioning Legitmacy of "Intelligent Design"

Posted by Amanda Marcotte, Pandagon at 2:00 PM on December 5, 2007.

Amanda Marcotte: Texas is a state to be watched, because so many right wing ideas and strategies hatch there only to be exported elsewhere.

I've been meaning to post about this for a few days, due to my dedication to Molly Ivins' belief that Texas is a state to be watched, because so many right wing ideas and strategies hatch here only to be exported elsewhere. It appears that the director of the statewide science curriculum Chris Corner was fired for having the nerve to forward an email that indicated that she might just believe that the science classroom is for science and not for religious indoctrination. (Needless to say, I am pretty sure the "uppity bitch" element played a part in this--Texas both has a long tradition of smart-assed liberal women and the men who will do anything to make sure we get the smackdown.) From the Statesman:

Chris Comer was director of the science curriculum for the Texas Education Agency for nearly a decade when she was forced to resign recently. Her offense, as unbelievable as it is to relate, was forwarding an e-mail message about a presentation by an author critical of the intelligent design approach to science education.

The education agency, of course, portrays the problem as one of insubordination and misconduct. But from all appearances, Comer was pushed out because the agency is enforcing a political doctrine of strict conservatism that allows no criticism of creationism......

Robert Scott, the new education commissioner, is not an educator but a lawyer and former adviser to Gov. Rick Perry. This presents an excellent opportunity for the governor and his appointee to step in firmly to put an end to ideological witch hunts in the agency.

The person who called for Comer to be fired is Lizzette Reynolds, a former deputy legislative director for Gov. George Bush. She joined the state education agency this year as an adviser after a stint in the U.S. Department of Education.

In her memo criticizing Comer, Reynolds said that Comer's passing along the e-mail "assumes this is a subject that the agency supports." That's absurd, of course, but it is in keeping with enforcing a doctrine that says creationism must not be criticized.

more...

http://alternet.org/blogs/peek/69792/#more

[sam sarrha]

1. he went way too easy.. they would have had carried me out.. Fuck those Christo-Fascists

[Tejanocrat]

2. k & r

[magellan]

3. Is the "Texas Education Agency" public or private?

Does it oversee public schools? If so, then where do we go to sue them and the US government for being religious extremists?

[Disturbed]

4. "She was forced to resign. "

Wouldn't it have been better for her if she forced these Jackasses to fire her? Then she could have sued for wrongful termination.

[magellan]

7. Definitely. But I'm talking about US bringing suit.

We, the people. Surely there are enough of us who oppose the idea of our tax dollars being used to teach religion in public school that we could put a lawsuit together?

I dunno, I'm just fuming. Ignore me. :mad:

[mopinko]

5. ah- the gablers. another tinfoilhatted conspiracy proved true.

can we get a nice fat "i told you so" here. we need a smilie for that. like many people, i ranted about this back in the day. it has led exactly where we said it would lead. sometimes i get sick of being right.
just a nit-pick, tho- the klan started after the civil war. the 60's did give it new life, however.

[Elspeth]

6. Texas joins the dark ages...Will no one rid us of these neocons??

:kick: