If you thought for a moment that public schools are not engrained in the psyche and culture of the nation, take a look at the fight in Sacramento, California, over proposed closings of a few schools. From the Sacramento Bee.
Even when schools fail, they can form the heart of a community.
2 Comments | 
Education, Education reform, Education spending | Tagged: California, Closing Schools, Education, Education spending, Failing Schools, Sacramento | 
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Posted by Ed Darrell
Pastors appear to be much better informed than Christians generally, especially among mainstream Christian denominations, and particularly on issues of science. They understand better that creationism shouldn’t be taught in public school science classes.
On a broad range of issues, mainline clergy affirm equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Roughly two‐thirds of mainline clergy support some legal recognition for same‐sex couples (65%), passing hate crime laws (67%) and employment nondiscrimination protections for gay and lesbian people (66%). A majority (55%) of mainline clergy support adoption rights for gay and lesbian people. Mainline Protestant clergy are strong advocates of church state separation.
A majority (65%) of mainline clergy agree that the U.S. should “maintain a strict separation of church and state.” Mainline clergy are more worried about public officials who are too close to religious leaders (59%) than about public officials who do not pay enough attention to religion (41%).
Mainline clergy are more likely to publicly address hunger and poverty and family issues than controversial social issues. More than 8‐in‐10 clergy say they publicly expressed their views about hunger and poverty often in the last year, and three‐quarters say they addressed marriage and family issues often. Only about one‐quarter (26%) say they often discussed the issues of abortion and capital punishment.
But where is the Methodist church falling down in getting clergy who understand science? If 54% of Methodist pastors don’t think evolution is the best explanation for diversity of life (the question got muddled in the questionnaire, alas), no wonder their congregations are so misinformed. You’d think they’d know better. You’d think the denomination would be truer to its roots of making the minister the best-informed guy in town.
I’m looking at Clergy Voices: Findings from the 2008 Mainline Protestant Clergy Voices Survey, released in March. Public Religion Research conducted the poll. More details from PRR, here.
Mainline clergy views of evolution and its place in public school curriculum are complex. On the one hand, the majority of mainline clergy (54%) do not support the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in public school biology classes. On the other hand, mainline clergy are more evenly divided in their views about the theory of evolution itself. Forty‐four percent of mainline ministers say that evolution is the best explanation for the origins of life on earth, and a similar number disagrees (43%). United Methodist clergy and American Baptist clergy are most likely to disagree. Seven‐in‐ten American Baptist clergy (70%) and a majority (53%) of United Methodist clergy say that evolution is not the best explanation for the origins of life on earth.
One question glaringly missing: Should Christians stick to the facts about science?
Tip of the old scrub brush to Bruce Tomaso at the Dallas Morning News Religionblog.
Leave a Comment » | Creationism, Education, Evolution, Politics, Reason, Religion, Science | Tagged: Church, Creationism, Education, Evolution, Mainline Christianity, Politics, Reason, Religion, Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Hurry, teachers, get your workshops before the State Board of Education declares science workshops to be illegal:
FREE upcoming teacher training workshops at the Texas Natural Science Center — sign up now!
Change Over Time workshop — 2 sessions (1 for elementary; 1 for middle school) on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Enjoy inquiry-based, hands-on activities using the Change Over Time kit containing TEKS-based geological science instructional materials for grades K-8! This workshop is designed to help students master Earth Science concepts tested on the TAKS (Grade 5 and/or Grade 8). Conducted in conjunction with Sargent-Welch, Science Kit, and Ward’s. For information and registration, visit http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/education/profdev/cot/index.htmlTexas: Past, Present and Future — 4 one-day workshops: June 30, July 14, July 22, and July 30.
Learn more about geology, paleontology and Texas biodiversity! Participating teachers will explore how animals are adapted to varying environments, investigate how paleontologists use fundamental principles to recreate what life was like in Texas’ past, and learn how to integrate these concepts into the classroom. Workshop participants will receive curriculum guides and be able to check out a Texas Fish and Mammals Loaner Kit for use in their classrooms. For information and registration, visit http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/education/profdev/txppf/index.html
Leave a Comment » | Education, Evolution, geology, Paleontology, professional development, Science, Texas | Tagged: continuing education, Earth Science, Education, Evolution, geology, Paleontology, Science, Texas | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Why isn’t it open-minded to teach intelligent design in science classes? Here, maybe one more explanation might help people understand.
From some film project that goes by the name Qualia Soup, via Pharyngula and Phil Plait at JREF:
8 Comments | Creationism, Education, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Reason, Science, Texas, Woo | Tagged: Creationism, Education, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Open-mindedness, Qualia Soup, Reason, Science, Texas | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Just when you thought things were looking up for getting the facts out — I mean, even Sen. Tom Coburn lifted his hold on the bill to name the post office after Rachel Carson — along comes Green Hell Blog.
Green Hell Blog? It looks like a vanity site for Steve Milloy, the polluting company shill who has maintained the unholy dudgeon against Rachel Carson, against health professionals, against malaria fighters, and for reintroducing DDT to poison Africa. Milloy has a new book published by Regnery (couldn’t you have guessed the publisher?). Title of Milloy’s book: Green Hell.
Holy mother of pearl! Here’s Milloy’s flatterer (Milloy himself?) railing away at educating kids at nature centers.
Can you believe it? He’s complaining about people like Boy Scouts as threats to the environment. One might have differences with Boy Scout officials, but criticizing Boy Scouts themselves is just beyond the pale.
One might ask, tongue in cheek, why does Mr. Milloy hate America, America’s natural resources, and America’s history so? What does Milloy have against kids? Then there is the creeping, nagging thought: What if it’s not parody?
1 Comment | DDT, Education, Environmental protection, Junk science, Voodoo science, War on Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
National Poetry Month. April. Good stuff.
Farmschool lists great stuff going on, including Gottabook’s 30 Poets/30 Days. “A Little Poem for Poetry Month.“
Are you subscribed to Poem-A-Day?
Have you asked your city to issue a proclamation? No? Get the proclamation and start lobbying!
Get ready for Poem in Your Pocket Day (April 30).
History teachers will crack out the “Concord Hymn” and tell the story of Paul Revere, of course. Maybe a little Joyce Kilmer to reveal the tragedy of World War I, or “Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” depending on how far the world history or U.S. history courses are.
1 Comment | Education, History, History and art, Lesson plans, Literature, Poetry | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Creationism lost on the votes that had been planned for weeks, on issues members of the State Board of Education were informed about. But creationists on the board proposed a series of amendments to several different curricula, and some really bad science was written in to standards for Texas school kids to learn. Climate change got an official “tsk-tsk, ain’t happenin'” from SBOE. And while Wilson and Penzias won a Nobel Prize for stumbling on the evidence that confirmed it, Big Bang is now theory non grata in Texas science books. Using Board Member Barbara Cargill’s claims, Texas teachers now should teach kids that the universe is a big thing who tells big lies about her age.
Phil Plait wrote at Bad Astronomy: “Texas: Yup. Doomed.”
A surefire way to tell that the changes were bad: The Discovery Institute’s lead chickens crow victory over secularism, science and “smart people.” Well, no, they aren’t quite that bold. See here, here, here and here. Disco Tute even slammed the so-conservative-Ronald-Reagan-found-it-dull Dallas Morning News for covering the news nearly accurately. Even more snark here. Discovery Institute’s multi-million-dollar budget to buy good public relations for anti-science appears to have dropped a bundle in Austin; while it might appear that DI had more people in Austin than there are members of the Texas SBOE . . . no, wait, maybe they did.
SBOE rejected the advice of America’s best and greatest scientists. If it was good science backed by good scientists and urged by the nation’s best educators, SBOE rejected it. If it was a crank science idea designed to frustrate teaching science, it passed. As the Texas Freedom Network so aptly put it, while SBOE closed the door on “strengths and weaknesses” language that favors creationism, they then opened every window in the house.
Read ’em, and tell us in comments if you find any reason for hope, or any reason the state legislature shouldn’t abolish this board altogether. (What others should we add to the list?)
5 Comments | Biology, Education, Education quality, Environmental protection, Evolution, History, Physics, Religion, Science, Texas, Texas Citizens for Science, Texas Freedom Network | Tagged: Biology, Education, Environmental Science, Evolution, geology, Physics, Science, Science Standards, Texas, Texas State Board of Education, War on Education, War on Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
A television station in College Station-Bryan, Texas, KBTX (Channel 3, a CBS affiliate) ran a poll on what Texas schools should be doing about evolution in biology classes. After hearing for days from the creationists on the State Board of Education that most people think creationism should be taught, the results are a little astounding:
Results: How do you think science should be taught in Texas schools?
Evolution only – 89.62% Creationism only – 2.96% Combination of both – 7.42% Total Responses – 9126
It just goes to show what happens when people speak up, no?
8 Comments | Citizenship, Creationism, Education, Evolution, Humor, Politics, Religion, Science | Tagged: Evolution, Polls, public schools, Religion, Science, Science Classes, Teaching, Texas | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Cartoon of Einstein and FDR, making fun of FDR's "alphabet soup" - Basil O'Conner collection, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Leave a Comment » | Albert Einstein, Education, knowledge, Natural history, Science | Tagged: Education, Einstein, knowledge, Nature, Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
More bad news than good news from the Texas State School Board: Yes, the board failed to reintroduce the creationist sponsored “strengths and weaknesses” language in high school science standards; but under the misleadership of Board Chair Don McLeroy, there is yet <i>another</i> series of amendments intended to mock science, including one challenging Big Bang, one challenging natural selection as a known mechanism of evolution, and, incredibly, one challenging the even the idea of common descent. It’s a kick in the teeth to Texas teachers and scientists who wrote the standards the creationists don’t like.
Texas Freedom Network’s blog headline tells the story: “Science Under Siege in Texas.”
Do you live in Texas? Do you teach, or are you involved in the sciences in Texas? Then please send an e-mail to the State Board of Education this morning, urging them to stick to the science standards their education and science experts recommended. Most of the recent amendments aim to kill the standards the scientists and educators wrote.
TFN tells how to write:
You can still weigh in by sending e-mails to board members at sboeteks@tea.state.tx.us. Texas Education Agency staff will distribute e-mails to board members.
You don’t think it’s serious? Here’s Don McLeroy explaining the purpose of one of his amendments:
Live blogging of SBOE activities today by Steve Schafersman of Texas Citizens for Science, here, and by the Texas Freedom Network, here.
3 Comments | Creationism, Darwin, Education, Education quality, Evolution, History, Religion, Science, Science and faith, State school boards, Texas, Texas Citizens for Science, Texas Freedom Network | Tagged: Education, McLeroy, public schools, Religion, Science, Science Standards, Texas, Texas State Board of Education, Voodoo science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Texas Freedom Network is live-blogging the hearings and proceedings from Austin, again today, before the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE). [I’ve changed the link to go to the TFN blog — that will take you to the latest post with latest news.] Testimony yesterday showed the coarse nature of the way SBOE treats science and scientists, and offered a lot of “balancing” testimony against evolution from people who appeared not to have ever read much science at all. The issue remains whether to force Texas kids to study false claims of scientific error about evolution.
As yesterday, Steve Schafersman of Texas Citizens for Science is live-blogging, too, here at EvoSphere.
Schafersman’s list of several ways you can keep up with the hearings still applies:
I will be live blogging the Texas State Board of Education meeting of 2009 March 25-27 in this column. This includes the hearing devoted to public testimony beginning at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 25. I will stay through the final vote on Friday, March 27.
Go to the following webpages for further information:
State Board of Education
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=1156March 25-26 SBOE Meeting Agenda
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3994March 25 Public Hearing with Testimony, 12:00 noon
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=4034State Board rules for Public Testimony
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3958#Public%20TestimonyCurrent Science TEKS as revised in 2009 January
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/home/sboeprop.htmlFor the live audio feed, go to http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ for the link.
Leave a Comment » | Creationism, Darwin, Education, Evolution, Politics, Religion, Science, State school boards, Texas, Texas Citizens for Science, Texas Education Agency (TEA) | Tagged: Creationism, Education, Evolution, Politics, Science, Texas, Texas State Board of Educaiton, Voodoo science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
3 Comments | Education, Education success, Mathematics, Science, Video and film | Tagged: Advertisement, Education, IBM, Mathematics, Motivation, Science, Smarter Planet | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Millard Fillmore’s life was shaped by the women he loved. His first wife, Abigail Powers, probably was the chief spur for his drive which took him to the presidency. In the White House, she stood for education and improvement of American culture — she founded the White House Library in 1851. A remarkable woman you should know more about.
Abigail Fillmore, Library of Congress image
Short bio of Abigail Powers Fillmore, and her tragic death, at LynnSpirit. Several other women are profiled — few you’ve heard of, most you should know.
(Oops – her birthday was yesterday, March 17.)
2 Comments | Education, History, Millard Fillmore, White House, Women's rights | Tagged: Abigail Powers Fillmore, Education, First Ladies, History, Millard Fillmore, White House | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
I’ve been itching to get at Tony Campolo’s republication of his errors on evolution and intelligent design. There’s a lot on my “to do” list.
Mike at Tangled Up In Blue Guy has beat me to it, and probably done it better than I could have. Go read, “Is, and ought, and Darwinism.” I agree.
Related material at Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub:
3 Comments | Accuracy, Bogus history, Charles Darwin, Darwin, Education, History, Racism, Science | Tagged: Accuracy, Culture, Darwin, Evolution, History, Racism, Science, Social Darwinism | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
[This is an Encore Post, from August 2007 — just as it appeared then. See especially the links on textbook selection processes, and “cargo cult” science, at the bottom.]
NOVA had a couple of good programs on Richard Feynman that I wish I had — it had never occurred to me to look at YouTube to see what people might have uploaded.
I ran into this one:
Richard Feynman struck my consciousness with the publication of his quite humorous autobiography, Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman. I thought it was a wonderful book, full of good character portraits of scientists as I saw them in my undergraduate days, only more famous ones. He followed that with What Do You Care What Other People Think?
By then, of course, Feynman was one of my heroes. His stories are useful in dozens of situations — his story of joining the samba bands in Rio testify to the joy of living, and the need for doing new things. Brazil was also the place he confronted the dangers of rote learning, when students could work equations perfectly for examples in the book — which they had memorized — but they couldn’t understand real world applications, such as describing how the sunlight coming off the ocean at Ipanema was so beautiful.
Feynman wrote about creationism, and about the dangers of voodoo science, in his now-famous essay on “Cargo cult science” — it’s so famous one has difficulty tracking down the facts to confirm the story.
Feynman’s stories of his wife, and her illness, and his love for her, were also great inspirations. Romance always gets me.
I failed to track him closely enough. During the run of the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, we had the misfortune of having scheduled a hearing in Orlando on January 30 (or maybe 29), 1986. We had hoped that the coincidental launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28 might boost our press response. Of course, the Challenger exploded. Our hearing went on as planned (we had a tough schedule to meet). The disaster affected our staff a lot, those who were in Florida, and the rest of us in Washington where many of us had been on the phone to Florida when the disaster occurred.
Feynman’s appointment to the commission studying the disaster was a brilliant move, I thought. Our schedule, unfortunately, kept me tied up on almost every day the Challenger commission met. So I never did walk the three blocks down the street to meet Feynman, thinking there would be other opportunities. He was already fatally ill. He died on February 15, 1988. I missed a chance of a lifetime.
We still have Feynman’s writings. We read the book aloud to our kids when they were younger. James, our youngest and a senior this year, read Surely You’re Joking again this summer, sort of a warmup to AP physics and his search for a college. [2009 Update: James is studying physics in the wilds of Wisconsin, finals week at Lawrence University next week — study hard, and good luck, James!]
And we still have audio and video. Remembering Feynman makes even the most avidly atheist hope for an afterlife, just to get a chance to hear Feynman explain what life was really all about, and how the universe really works.
Other notes:
3 Comments | Cargo Cults, Education, Feynman, Geography - Physical, Geography - Political, Heroes, History, History video sources, Manhattan Project, Physics, Science, Textbook Selection, Video and film | Tagged: Atomic Bomb, Beauty, Cargo Cults, Heroes, History, history video, Manhattan Project, Nature, Physics, Richard Feynman, Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
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Ed Darrell on Texas's Colorado River
Come on in, the water's fine. Come often: Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
