Creationists Dealt Major Blow in Battle Over Evolutionary Content in Texas Biology Textbooks

The battle over evolution and creationism in public schools forges on. And in Texas, where some social conservatives have advocated for a more balanced approach to the study of life's origins, it seems creationists may be in for major disappointment.

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Next month, the Texas' State Board of Education is set to meet to officially adopt new biology textbooks. Despite Chairwoman Barbara Cargill's goal of infusing all sides of the debate into educational texts, the 14 publishers the board will choose from have reportedly not included any creationist content.

For years, conservative members of the board have been pushing for books to include information that is critical of evolutionary theory -- and 2013 was no exception.

During the summer, Cargill, a former biology teacher, invited creationists, among others, to review the textbooks and to offer recommendations. About a dozen individuals showed up to share their views on the books. These opinions were then delivered to the textbook publishers in hopes that they might be integrated into future texts.

What's perhaps most interesting about recent testimony surrounding the 14 textbooks under consideration are comments from Don McLeroy, a dentist who previously served on the board.

Giving statements that ran counter to his conservative counterparts, McLeroy, an avowed creationist, argued last month in favor of adopting the books and said that they would expose students to key information that would "strike a final blow to the teaching of evolution."

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The former chair said that the evolutionary information in the books would actually cause inquisitive students to question and poke holes in the scientific theory, KBTX-TV reported last month.

"Evolutionists argue that creationists want to force their religious views into the text, but just the teaching of biology accomplishes that," he told the board. "Support the Bible, adopt these books."

Publishers recently released proposed amendments to the books, though, and they reportedly included none of the creationist content that some have so fervently sought, the Dallas Observer reports.

The board won't officially vote on the books until November.

This battle isn't new. As TheBlaze previously reported, the Republican-dominated board drew national attention in 2009 when it adopted science standards encouraging schools to scrutinize “all sides” of scientific theory. Since that time, debate has abounded.

While many decry attempts to temper evolutionary textbook content, Cargill's supporters have claimed in the past that she is merely seeking to level the playing field when it comes to discussions of evolution and life’s beginnings.

(H/T: Dallas Observer)

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