Textbook hearing draws evolution supporters, detractors

Sandra Calderon and Nick Savelli showed up in costume for the Texas Freedom Network's rally outside the hearing on textbook content. Sandra Calderon and Nick Savelli showed up in costume for the Texas Freedom Network's rally outside the hearing on textbook content. Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Textbook hearing draws evolution supporters, detractors 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Proposed changes to science textbooks that critics say could dilute students' understanding of the theory of evolution drew 59 people before the State Board of Education to argue about that theory Tuesday.

Biology professors, parents and students asserted the changes would downplay evolution's soundness and promote unscientific alternatives such as creationism.

The board will vote on the proposal in November.

Steven Schafersman, president of Texas Citizens for Science, told board members that Texas' system to adopt science instructional materials is “sick, broken and corrupt.” He said textbook review panels responsible for biology materials — many members of which were anti-evolution activists — approached the process with a political bent, not an educational focus.

“They want to make changes that weaken and damage evolution instruction so that students will be misled and confused about the ability of evolutionary biology to explain the existence of biological diversity, thus leaving students prey to creationist explanations,” Schafersman said.

Ron Wetherington, an anthropology professor at Southern Methodist University who specializes in biology and served on a biology textbook review panel, said the process allows people with minimal or no knowledge about the topic to influence which textbooks are adopted.

“No self-respecting publisher is going to make changes recommended that actually assault the science of evolution and introduce errors as opposed to correcting them,” Wetherington said before the meeting.

Some also said the process could negate the separation of church and state.

Matt Simpson, a policy strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said past litigation on that point has not gone in favor of those who wish to downplay evolution in science textbooks, which prompted board member David Bradley, R-Beaumont, to ask if the ACLU was planning to sue the state if the proposals are implemented.

“I don't even think you'd have to wait for the ACLU to sue you. You could be sued by a number of people,” Simpson said.

Bradley contested the notion of separation of church and state as a legal doctrine.

“I've got another $1,000 that's been sitting out there for quite a few years because they can't find it in the (U.S.) Constitution,” he said.

Urging the board to adopt the textbook changes, former SBOE Chairman Don McLeroy said it would “strike the final blow to the teaching of evolution” in Texas.

“There's some hidden jewels in these texts just waiting to be mined by inquisitive students that can destroy evolution,” McLeroy said.

There are fewer avowed creationists on the 15-member elected board than in previous years. Four of them have departed since 2009, including another former chair, Gail Lowe, who lost a Republican primary last year.

Something else has changed. If the board passes the recommendations, it wouldn't force school districts in Texas to use the textbooks. A law passed by the Legislature in 2011 allows districts to adopt textbooks that have not been approved by the board if they meet state standards.

A crowd of pro-evolution demonstrators holding signs reading “stand up for science” and “your kids deserve the truth” gathered outside the Texas Education Agency building before the hearing.

Many said the changes would put students at a disadvantage when taking college-level biology courses or competing for jobs in scientific fields.

Addressing the demonstrators, Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said they were there to remind the board “we don't want to send our children into the information and technology age with a science education from the Dark Ages.”

Environmental toxicologist Sandy Smith said even students who don't pursue a career in science would be negatively affected by downplaying evolution in science textbooks.

“Science is an important process for us to understand, even those of us who aren't pursuing science as a vocation,” Smith said.