Texas Higher Education and Creation Research, Part 19

The Christian Post has a news story about the upcoming meeting of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Institute for Creation Research.

A e-mail update sent Thursday by Dr. Henry Morris, founder of ICR, reported that the April 23 hearing will also include an "unusual" half-hour session which will be open to public comments.

Morris told The Christian Post that his contact, who has worked with THECB for 15 years, informed him that the Board never before authorized such a public comment session.

Apparently, the Texas Academy of Science will have someone there to comment.

"We have been told second-hand, through our contact, that their objection is that we are using the word 'science.' If we would just drop the word science," the approval would go through, said Morris.

Which raises the question of why they don't simply call it a degree in creation studies and be done with it. That would seem to be the "everyone wins" scenario. ICR gets their program with an honest label.

He argued that students exercise critical thinking skills when they are taught how to compare an evolutionary mindset to a creationist mindset.

"How can you be a critical thinker if you don't know what the other side is?" he asked.

Saying you are "the other dies" does not make that side equally valid. Even if it was, you have to have some confidence that alternate views are treated objectively. And the Institute of Creation Research has made it very clear that it's anti-evolution, and it does not represent the consensus view on science. It's fringe.

Regardless of the outcome this week, this is unlikely to be over this week...

The ICR has the option to appeal within 45 days and/or to reapply within 180 days if the Board rejects the application. In the case of approval, ICR will begin its effort to obtain accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.