Bass Ackwards

The state of Texas has a disproportional effect on high school textbooks. Since Texas is the second largest consumer, the textbook companies will create a textbook based on Texas' standards and then sell that same textbook around the country. Unfortunately, Texas is one of those stupid states which requires that accepted scientific fact be watered down to suit religious belief.

The Texas Education Board voted in January to get rid of a requirement that textbooks teach the "strength and weaknesses" of evolution, which is code for teaching Creationism. In other words, they were going to get rid of the religiously-motivated language and actually require that science be taught. The Republican Chairman, a creationist, tacked on an amendment to restore the language.

"I want to see the United States keep its scientific edge," he said. "And I think the way you do that is by being honest with the kids, you teach them the science, you show them the weaknesses and strengths."

What he's saying may sound open-minded and correct. But it's absolutely ass-backwards. What he wants is to teach creationist talking points about the "weaknesses" of evolution, which is like teaching that the existence of Thetans is a "weakness" in germ theory. Evolution is fact. The theory isn't 100% complete, it's constantly being revised. But there are no "weaknesses" like the ones creationists want to teach.

You don't keep your scientific edge by teaching creationism. And when you're Texas, you drag a lot of states down with you.