“honest history” for Texas social studies standards?

In her testimony Wednesday night, November 18, before the Texas State Board of education, Carole Haynes (phonetic) helpfully informed the Board members that
There has been so much controversy over the Civil Rights [legislation], … and the truth was, Republicans voted for it and the Democrats voted against it. … We need to set that record [...]

Chris Hedges | BookTV | Colbert Report

On Sunday, October 11th at 12pm noon (ET), BookTV on CSpan2 will be re-airing their “After Words” interview of Chris Hedges on his new book, Empire of illusion: the end of literacy and the triumph of spectacle.
I saw this segment last weekend, and then I bought the book. Hedges has more depth and perspective than [...]

Mooney & the “new atheists”: another round

Another round in the ongoing Neuatheismusstreit was touched off by an opinion piece in the L.A. Times by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum, authors of the new book Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future. They write:
It often appears as though Dawkins and his followers–often dubbed the New Atheists, though some object to the [...]

TX Gov Perry names Gail Lowe to chair State Board of Education

The Associated Press reports that Texas Governor Rick Perry has appointed Gail Lowe, one of the right-wing ideologues on SBOE, to serve as the Board’s chair, now that his first appointment of Don McLeroy failed confirmation in the state senate. … it strikes me that Lowe’s consistently petty partisanship makes McLeroy look like a diplomat and statesman by comparison.

Earth: 6,000 years old, so not at risk from nuclear power (AZ Senator), w/ video

But can there really be a legislative district anywhere in this country that would wan’t somebody like her making the decisions? What does that tell us about the state of education in this country?

Bill Ayers on Book TV “In Depth” on C-SPAN2

On BookTV (C-SPAN2) a three-hour call-in show with Bill Ayers will air at the following times (US East Coast time: EDT)

Sunday, June 7, at 12:00 PM (Live)
Monday, June 8, at 12:00 AM
Saturday, June 13, at 9:00 AM

The BookTV page for this event is posted here, with the following information:
About the Program
Author Bill Ayers will be [...]

McLeroy primary opponent announced

See this article in the Houston Chronicle.
Click here for (many) previous posts on Chairman Mc (some including audio and/or video) on this blog.

Obama supports science (with audio, & link to video)

Speaking before the National Academy of Sciences today, President Barak Obama said that in recent years,
… scientific integrity has been undermined and scientific research politicized in an effort to advance predetermined ideological agendas.
And, as noted on the White House blog, “The President gave the context in his remarks”:
On March 9th, I signed an executive memorandum [...]

2007 Report on Schooling in Arne Duncan’s Chicago

It may be that Duncan will be somewhat different in Washington than in Chicago. Regardless, any positive changes will require continued great effort on
our part. As a friend remarked yesterday, “It’s what my husband said: If McCain is elected, might as well fold up the tent and go home. If Obama is
elected, it means a lot of hard work on our part.”

fair, or “balanced”?

Some observers have commented that nothing new or noteworthy emerged from the November 19, 2008 session of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE).
Well, maybe this isn’t new, but I think it deserves notice:
Despite the overwhelming imbalance of testimony favoring standards that would support the teaching of real science in Texas, newspaper stories have managed [...]

TX Gov names (fundamentalist?) Chair of Higher Education board

Texas Governor Rick Perry has appointed A. W. “Whit” Riter III of Tyler (TX) chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
Does this have repercussions for the attempt by the Institute for Creation Research to get accreditation for its distance education masters degree program for certification for “science education” teachers?

fruit flies, & Creationist Palin’s science ignorance

Palin’s non-understanding of science was dramatically displayed in her first policy speech of the campaighn Friday, Oct. 24. Her subject was federal policy to provide for children with special needs, for which she pledged:

VP candidate Palin supports teaching “creation science”

Click here for post on wired.com.
Here’s what she said, as reported by the Anchorage Daily News:
Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter [...]

Texas GOP: NCLB “a massive failure, should be abolished”

Although my previous post highlights what the Texas 2008 Republican Platform says about “Theories of Origin,” the biggest headline in the Education pages of that platform is surely their statement that
The No Child Left Behind Act has been a massive failure and should be abolished.
Recall that this law was George W. Bush’s signature piece of [...]

genetic factors in political orientation?

An article by Jim Giles published in New Scientist, and posted by the Center for Genetics and Society, surveys a variety of studies leading some people to see genetic factors in political inclinations, including liberal v. conservative, and likelihood to participate or not.
The studies include twin studies, gene studies and personality studies. This calls for [...]