PROBLEMS WITH SCIENCE EDUCATION POLICY IN THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

There is a continuing squabble in this nation of ours over what can be considered science and what should not be considered so. The specific disagreement discussed here is that of teaching Creationism alongside Evolution in science classes, even more specifically, in Texas’ public schools. This issue can be manifest through various queries: 1) What should be included in textbooks? 2) How should science teachers be trained? 3) Where is the controversy most apparent? 4) Who are the political supporters for each side? And so forth. Scientific consensus should be the only examples given in sciences classrooms. Consensus should not be rivaled by marginal minorities when being presented to students – there should not be equal instruction given on two sides of an issue when one side clearly represents the consensus. Any variations on consensus science should be studied under the heading of Scientific Method in showing that science is a process of furthering understanding and not that of purporting ultimate knowledge. Problems in the TEA are severe and fly in the face of scientific progress and our international standing in science literacy.