11.18.08
98% Of Texas University Science Scientists Surveyed Said..
Yesterday the Texas Freedom Network (TFN) released a report on it’s survey of Texas university faculty which showed that, quoting from the press release, “A first-time statewide survey shows that science faculty at public and private universities in Texas soundly reject arguments promoted by opponents of scientific evolution..”, those arguments are also known as intelligent design. Also from the release:
“This survey leaves no doubt that the political crusade against evolution and other attempts to dumb down our public school science curriculum are deeply misguided,” TFN Education Fund President Kathy Miller said today. “Texas scientists are clearly worried that failing to provide a 21st-century science education in our public schools will harm our children’s chances to succeed in college and the jobs of the future.”
The five finding in the report are as follows:
1. Texas scientists (97.7 percent) overwhelmingly reject “intelligent design” as valid science.
2. Texas science faculty (95 percent) want only evolution taught in science classrooms.
3. Scientists reject teaching the so-called “weaknesses” of evolution, with 94 percent saying that those arguments are not valid scientific objections to evolution.
4. Science faculty believe that emphasizing “weaknesses” of evolution would substantially harm students’ college readiness (79.6 percent) and ability to compete for 21st-century jobs (72 percent).
5. Scientists (91 percent) strongly believe that support for evolution is compatible with religious faith.
The survey results show that politicians who argue that there is a scientific controversy over evolution are not supported by scientists even in a state as conservative as Texas, Miller said.
As they say this is especially important since, “The release of the survey comes as the Texas State Board of Education continues work on revising the science curriculum standards for Texas public schools. The state board is set to adopt the revised standards in March 2009.” Here are the links to the Executive Summary and the full report, EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM & PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Surveying What Texas Scientists Think about Educating Our Kids in the 21st Century [.pdf].
Here in Williamson County and SBOE 10 this is very important since we are represented on the state board by Cynthia Dunbar, who is on the extreme right wing of political spectrum.
That kind of early 20th century thinking is putting our children at risk says Dr. Raymond Eve who did the study. From the HChron, Most Texas profs support no limits on evolution teaching.
The verdict from Texas scientists is nearly unanimous: 98 percent favor the unadulterated teaching of evolution in public school classrooms, according to a report released Monday as the State Board of Education prepares to weigh in on the controversy.
A vast majority of the scientists say students would be harmed if the state requires the teaching of the “weaknesses” of evolution, according to the survey conducted for the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, an organization that works on issues involving religious freedom, civil liberties and public education.
“With 94 percent of Texas faculty … telling me it (teaching the weaknesses) shouldn’t be there, I tend to believe them,” said Raymond Eve, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Arlington who did the study.
More than 450 biology or biological anthropology professors at 50 Texas colleges and universities participated in a 59-question survey. Many of those faculty members help determine admission of students into Texas’ colleges and universities, Eve said.
“Their responses should send parents a clear message that those who want to play politics with science education are putting our kids at risk,” he said.
Enough!! We must teach our children science in science class.