Behind the Lines
Lowe and Behold
The controversial State Board of Education has a new chair. Here’s how she can keep it from becoming the State Board of Embarrassment.
14 comments
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009, 3:25 am
Eli says:
Here is the problem. Scientists claim there is no alternative theory to Evolution. Now, I do recognize that evolution does take place, on a small scale. But when someone say, "We have fossils, and DNA and it all points to common ancestor." That is a FORCED belief, because the ones saying it, do not recognize an Intelligent Designer,so, there is no alternative, it makes logical sense to those that belief in Evolution, because there is no God and hence there is no God, that is the only alternative. See, it’s an agenda based subject. Why do you think that most of the people supporting it are Atheists. Now, I do believe that Evolution should be taught, as well as a COMMON DESIGNER. Let the CHILD DECIDE who to worship. Remember, the agenda for many Atheists is to rid the world of religion, Dawkins, Hitchens even admit to such a thing. Were not talking about teaching about the "Christian God" in schools, or Zeus. But that it is rational to believe that there may be a designer. Now, if we left this in the hands of people who would believe that a stereo evolved from a phone because they both have speakers, then children would believe that something cam from nothing, that nothing caused something int being. I say, that a stereo and phone have speakers because of idea works, and the designer knew this. It is pure logic. Now, their are only 3 possibilities, 1. God caused the Universe into existence. 2. Nothing created the Universe. 3. The Universe is eternal. Take away a designer, or creator, and you’re FORCED to only apply the other two. That is what their doing, their attempting to FORCE only one outcome, common ancestor, because since there is no designer or even the possibility of one, then there is no common design.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, 4:30 pm
Ms. Pitbull says:
No Cheri, you are stupid. Embrace it, love it accept it.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, 3:50 pm
Flewellyn says:
Cheri, you don’t want students to think critically and question things. If you did, you would not be pushing for creationism to be taught in schools. Critical thought and questioning are at the very heart of good science, which you evidently oppose because it doesn’t suit your personal worldview. That is the opposite of critical thought: it is accepting received understanding uncritically, and without regard for its factual basis.
Blather about critical thinking and questioning authority all you want; the truth is, you don’t want students to question the authority you believe in.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, 2:08 pm
Peter says:
Cheri, we’ll break it down for you:
Creationism isn’t the opposite of evolution. Science isn’t the opposite of religion. Reason is the opposite of religion. Let’s apply some reason:
There is no opposite to evolution. There is no other *scientific theory* that can compete with it.
There is, however, a whole spectrum of creation myth to choose from. The Abrahamic religions have the tale of Genesis. Other faiths have the story of Crow and Coyote, or tales that tell us the earth was excreted by ants or that people were created whole from a ball of mud.
How can you be so arrogant as to presume your myth is any better than other myths? If you teach one, teach them all. But please don’t try to put them on the same plane as science - because they simply aren’t!
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, 2:04 pm
Rob says:
I second b.g. Cheri, you are stupid.
Even if you want to play "God’s days aren’t ours", it’s been soundly disproven. The order’s wrong. If you want to dispute that order, then your computer doesn’t work either a whole lot of other technology you use on a daily basis because it’s based on the same principles and math.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, 1:25 pm
b.g. says:
Yes, Cheri, you ARE stupid.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, 5:58 am
Ronin Kannushi says:
"State Board of Embarrassment," is right. Texas is becoming a laughing stock, nation wide. I understand the creationist wanting to contribute, but not command. Science is crucial to understanding our modern world. Abstinence has produced the highest teenage birthrates in America. I think it might not be working. I hope this article is taken to heart by Ms. Lowe.
Saturday, August 29th, 2009, 11:44 am
Jerry says:
While I believe in God and Jesus Christ, I do not feel the need to force my beliefs and opinions on others, and, I do not feel it is the job of the schools to teach religion. It should always be an elective. Things of a religious nature should be taught at home and with the church. What happened to the roles that parents and preachers were given. We need to teach our children what is "going on" in the world. They need to be up to date on all current events. They need to be some of the smartest kids in the world and that is not going to happen unless some of the old Conservative ideas are set aside. Our Texas kids are not prepared when they graduate. We need more teachers and smaller classes. Put the money where it’s needed. Quit giving money to people who don’t want to work or pay taxes. People who are at the welfare offices every six months to continue their benefits. Just a post script: I do feel that when we took out any authority, of the school, to punish students for misbehavior is when most of our problems started. There is a difference between a spanking and a beating, but, I guess we are way past that now. I was spanked when I was growing up and I knew exactly what was wrong and what was right and I knew if I didn’t do good in school or if I misbehaved, I was going to get a spanking.
Thursday, August 27th, 2009, 8:06 pm
Cecil Lanier says:
Your column about the SBOE is particularly distressing, especially for someone who’s been working in public education for over thirty years. Many of the teachers I’ve worked with work hard every day to make sure the needs of our children are met. These folks could provide simple, well thought out solutions, to many problems we face in public education today. Someone let those "important" SBOE members know that answers abound in the trenches, the work places, of the public schools in Texas.
Monday, August 24th, 2009, 3:17 pm
Marsha C. Elgin says:
It’s a shame we won’t get a chance to get rid of those SBOE idiots before they do irreparable harm to our public schools. The election isn’t until next year, and they’ll be finished with the TEQS by then. As a taxpayer, I’m appalled at how my contribution to education is being/will be used.
Bible study in public schools, taught with public money in public facilities, is not necessary. Did the churches all go out of business? Did the preachers all die? If the answer to each of those questions is "NO!" then why aren’t the churches and preachers doing their own business and telling the schools to "Butt out" of the business of religion? The bible is not history and it’s not literature and has no place in a public school classroom. If parents want their children indoctrinated with religious "history" and "literature" then they should take their little ankle-biters to church. Don’t use my money for propaganda and proselytizing.
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009, 12:24 pm
Jimmie says:
If only Ms. Lowe and the entire SBOE would pay heed to Mr. Burka’s advice. Our Texas schools need intelligent guidance. Our Gov. Perry vetoed the bill that would have added one educator to the board. However, as a subscriber to the Lampasas Dispatch (the local paper she and her spouse co-publish) I believe that there is little hope of that. The conservative agenda is the only view of that paper.
Saturday, August 22nd, 2009, 3:05 pm
Mars says:
Cheri,
Yes, I believe you are stupid... really stupid.
Friday, August 21st, 2009, 5:20 pm
Robert says:
I attended all the SBOE public meetings when science standards were under review. The conservative members were not interested in rational discourse. They ignored the advice of nationally recognized scientists and favored, instead, the non-scientific (i.e. nonsense) opinions of their fellow ideologues. The only solution to this problem is to replace them with reality-based board members. For the sake of Texas’ school children every voter in Texas must educate him/herself about his/her representative and vote the ideologues out.
Thursday, August 20th, 2009, 12:27 pm
Cheri says:
Although I believe in a literal 7 day creation of the Earth, I am not stupid and I do actually believe the Earth is round. We are not doing our students any favors by pushing evolution down their throats without teaching them to think critically and realize that there just might be another answer. (Especially since none of us were here to witness it.) So see, I think that a textbook touting evolution as fact, the only option, is a textbook that contains factual errors and does not teach our students to be discerning and critical of what they’re told. Regarding replacing the picture of the woman and briefcase with a picture of a woman with a cake, might I ask why the woman had to be holding anything at all? Or if so, why not a tennis racket?
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