Texas governor does not know the law of his own state

This is weird. Texas governor and American presidential candidate is reported on NBC news as saying:

(I)n Texas we teach both creationism and evolution.

Not in the K-12 public schools, you don’t. I don’t doubt that it’s something Perry wants to be true about public schools, but it is not true.

Indeed, Ken Mercer of the Texas State Board of Education recently offered $500 to anyone who can show there is creationism in the Texas science standards.



I’ve looked at those standards, and Mercer is right. There is no creationism in the Texas science standards. It’s the law to teach evolution, and nothing else.

Maybe Perry is talking about home schooling or something else. But that’s me being charitable.


Additional: A reporter chases this down, and gets surprising replies:

I called the Texas Education Agency for confirmation. And I got an even bigger surprise.

First, spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson sent me a wordy statement: “Our science standards require students to analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations, so it is likely that other theories, such as creationism, would be discussed in class. Our schools can also offer an elective course on Biblical history and it is likely that creationism is discussed as part of that class too.”

I called Culbertson to get a direct answer to my question: “Does the state of Texas teach creationism as scientific fact?”

Culbertson wouldn't say yes or no: “It could be part of the discussion,” she said. “If it comes up, then it's in the classroom.”

There you have it, science teachers of Texas. On the subject of teaching creationism in class, the education department won't say it's wrong, and the governor thinks you're already doing it.

There's nothing to stop you now but the law.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/article/Texas-teaching-of-scienceapparently-has-evolved-2122863.php#ixzz1VTepr6R8

More additional: Politifact backs me up.