The State Board of Education, which is dominated by evangelical conservatives, is expected to take a final vote today to continue requiring Texas science teachers to invite students to consider 'alternatives' to the accepted Theory of Evolution, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
A preliminary vote on Wednesday indicated the SBOE is willing to ignore a panel of scholars, which it created, and which recommended that the language be removed.
"This is something we have seen repeatedly at the state board over the last years, where politicians believe they know better than teachers and subject matter experts, what belongs in our kids classes," Ryan Valentine of the liberal-leaning Texas Freedom Network, told News Radio 1200 WOAI's Michael Board.
Critics say the language opens the door to the teaching of 'creationism,' or the Biblical Creation Theory, in public schools.
"It was like watching a sequel to a bad movie," Valentine said. "The board intervening to overrule the work of classroom teachers and scholars, and insert their ideology into the science standard.
"The vote taken by the board today is final.Critics like Valentine say, regardless of your religious beliefs, what is basically a faith-based belief has no place in science classes, and would be better suited to classes in theology or philosophy.
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