The Revisionaries Page #3

is created in the image of God,

I want to see that they have

the best opportunity possible.

If you want to control and shape

the politics of a state,

controlling and shaping

what students learn

in public schools

from age 5 through age 18

is a really, really smart strategy.

And we have witnessed

an intense focus

on gaining that control

by the far-right faction.

[applause]

Good morning.

My name is Steven Schafersman.

I'm president

Of Texas Citizens for Science,

And I was a member

Of the Earth and Space Science

Standards Writing Panel.

I have been following

this organization

for 28 years,

and there has been an effort

over this entire time,

for three decades,

to oppose science,

specifically evolution

and the origin of life.

This is a healthy debate

that's going on.

If you look at

the hundreds of people

that came to this hearing,

a lot of people are interested

in this issue.

And there's clearly

big groups on both sides.

And what you're gonna hear

is teachers,

scientists, professors, parents,

concerned citizens

across the state of Texas

that have voiced their opinion

that they want the "strengths

and weaknesses" standard

to remain.

Texas is really the first place

where that new political strategy

of promoting

the weaknesses of evolution

is having a test.

You're actually saying that

students have no business

critiquing scientific theories

or even scientific hypotheses?

Mr Mercer high school students don't have

the expertise or the ability to do that

in a scientific context.

So when you say:
'critique

the strengths and weaknesses'

I don't know what that means.

That is not scientific language

In science we investigate, analyze

do research, test hypotheses and

critiques are done in the

literature and among scientists

It's been requirement the last 20 years.

How many items of litigation

have you involved with the state

with the current requirement?

I'm aware of the requirement

for the last 20 years

it's been a problem

for the last 20 years.

The rule has been used by

anti-evolutionists

like the Discovery Institute

to come into Texas

and try to get bogus weaknesses

put in biology textbooks

They're trying to intimidate

and make teachers afraid

of teaching evolution

That's what the main goal

of this process is.

Science education

and evolution education

particularly is very politicised

in the Texas Board of Education

And the creationist majority

wanted to have the TEKS reviewed by experts in

science (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)

The moderates selected three

competent well known Texas scientists.

Local guys.

The conservatives chose two

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