Texas governor appoints creationist as state board of education chairman

[NNN0LHI]

http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20070718130243856

<snip>Conservative groups applauded the selection, but not everyone was pleased with the new chairman.

Texas Freedom Network president Kathy Miller, whose group advocates for the strict separation of church and state, said Mr. Perry deserves an "F" for appointing "a clear ideologue who has repeatedly put his own personal and political agendas ahead of sound science, good health and solid textbooks for students."

She noted that in 2003, Dr. McLeroy was one of four board members who voted against proposed high school biology textbooks because he felt their coverage of evolution was "too dogmatic" and did not include possible flaws in Charles Darwin's theory of how life on Earth evolved from lower forms.

"Dr. McLeroy will now be in charge of the board's scheduled revision of the state's science curriculum standards, an area where he has already cast his lot with extremists who want to censor what our schoolchildren learn," said Ms. Miller, whose group frequently battles social conservatives over textbooks and other issues.

But Dr. McLeroy said his vote on the biology books had nothing to do with censorship or religion and was based on "good science."

"It is wrong to teach opinion as fact," he said.

Regarding his religious beliefs, he said, "I'm a very religious guy, and I've taught Sunday school for several years. It's important to me."

[hobbit709]

1. Once again Goodhair caters to the thumpers.

He's actually a worse governor than shrub.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Scary...

There is something that always puzzles me as a foreigner: the USA is a top world leader in science and technology, respected all over the globe in these areas - and yet at the same time, you keep getting these anti-science fundie types into positions of power.

If this man achieves his ambitions, I suppose that will mean that Texan children will end up disproportionately unable to get into science degree courses, and pursue science careers. Which does seem a pity.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Here's Pres. Jimmy Carter, on the same topic (in Georgia) in 2004:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/01/30/georgia.evolution/index.html

Carter slams Georgia's 'evolution' proposal

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) --Former President Jimmy Carter said Friday he was embarrassed by the Georgia Department of Education proposal to eliminate the word "evolution" from the state's curriculum.

"As a Christian, a trained engineer and scientist, and a professor at Emory University, I am embarrassed by Superintendent Kathy Cox's attempt to censor and distort the education of Georgia's students," Carter said in a written statement.

...

But Carter said dropping the word would leave Georgia's high school graduates "with a serious handicap as they enter college or private life where freedom of speech will be permitted."

Carter also predicted ridicule for the state, along with discredit on Georgia's university system.

...

"There is no need to teach that stars can fall out of the sky and land on a flat Earth in order to defend our religious faith."

[blogslut]

3. Hey, Rick!

You won your office with less than 40% of the vote. Something tells me you won't be winning again in 2010. Enjoy your stay.

[Agnostic_Jihad]

4. Texans

should have elected that Jewish cowboy

[blogslut]

6. No

Friedman is no progressive. Nor is he an independent. He is a Repub - disguised as a cowboy. And if that jerk had stayed the hell out of the race, Chris Bell would be our governor.

[snappyturtle]

7. Well should we be surprised? Texas has already executed

19 men so far this year! I wonder if Dr. McLeroy would consider himself an enlightened Christian?

[mmonk]

8. Sheeeesh.

You Texans have your work cut out for you. Hope you make it.

[kansasblue]

9. Been there, done that. Now Kansas is back to teaching science.

good luck.

[Ian David]

10. Duplicat:e: Creationist Appointed by Governor Rick Perry To Head Texas School Board

Creationist Appointed by Governor Rick Perry To Head Texas School Board
Topic started by IanDB1 on Jul-25-07 11:37 PM (8 replies)
Last modified by IanDB1 on Jul-26-07 07:16 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3403355

[China_cat]

11. Dear fundamentalists

for all your insistance on the bible as 100% accurate and must be obeyed completely...what part of 'you cannot serve 2 masters' don't you understand? You might think that you are serving your god by entering government, but all you are doing is mixing god and mammon.

Remember what your founder reported said? 'Give to god that which is god's and give to man that which is man's'. He never said to mix the 2.