Evolution battle in Texas textbooks - News and Comment - Brief Article

In September 2003, a crowd packed a Board of Education hearing on the selection of biology textbooks in Austin, Texas. The topic of contention was, of course, evolution. More than 160 people signed up to speak in front of the board at the September 10 meeting. Among them were officials from the Seattle-based creationist group Discovery Institute. The board voted 10 to 3 not to let the out-of-state witnesses testify during the hearing. They were, however, allowed to make presentations to the board members after the hearing adjourned and to submit written testimony.

William Dembski, Baylor professor and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute, misrepresented scientific opposition of evolution while speaking to the Associated Press. "There is considerable debate in scientific circles about the mechanism of evolution, namely how it happened," Dembski said, quoted in a September 11 news story on the hearing. "All the textbooks under consideration grossly exaggerate the evidence for neo-Darwinian evolution, pretending that its mechanism of natural selection acting on random genetic change is a slam dunk. Not so."

Many groups and individuals voiced their support for quality science education, including members of National Center for Science Education, Texas Citizens for Science, the Texas Freedom Network, scientists from the University of Texas at Austin (including CSICOP Fellow Steven Weinberg), educators, concerned parents, clergy, and other citizens from around the state.

Texas is the second largest textbook market in the country, surpassed only by California. Changes made by publishers because of decisions in these two states often influence textbooks across the United States. For this reason the Discovery Institute and other enemies of science education are eager to influence these school boards. The approved textbooks will be announced on November 7.

Kevin Christopher is Public Relations Director for CSICOP.

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