The recent unpleasant affair at the Texas Education Agency, in which the director of the science curriculum, Chris Comer, was pressured to resign, was triggered by Comer forwarding an email announcing a talk by Barbara Forrest. Forrest is a philosopher of science, and one of our leading advocates in the ongoing fight for better science education in the face of the nonsense the creationists are promoting. She’s also one of their critics the creationists most fear, so it’s not surprising that her name would elicit knee-jerk panic.
Forrest has now issued a formal statement on the termination of Chris Comer. You can download the pdf from NCSE, or read it below the fold. She doesn’t pull any punches. Here’s a taste, but you really should read the whole thing.
The incident now involving Ms. Comer exemplifies perfectly the reason my co-author Paul R. Gross and I felt that our book, Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design, had to be written. (http://www.creationismstrojanhorse.com) By forcing Ms. Comer to resign, the TEA seems to have confirmed our contention that the ID creationist movement — a religious movement with absolutely no standing in the scientific world — is being advanced by means of power politics.
Statement Regarding Texas Education Agency’s Termination of Chris Comer, Texas Director of Science
Barbara Forrest, Ph.D.
Co-author with Paul R. Gross of Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design
& Expert witness for plaintiffs in Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School DistrictDecember 5, 2007
In forcing Chris Comer to resign as Texas Director of Science, the Texas Education Agency has confirmed in a most public, unfortunate way the central point of my Austin presentation, “Inside Creationism’s Trojan Horse,” the mere announcement of which TEA used as an excuse to terminate her: the intelligent design (ID) creationist movement is about politics, religion, and power. If anyone had any doubts about how mean-spirited ID politics is, this episode should erase them. Texas school children depend on the adults at the TEA to protect the quality of their education. For the last nine years at the TEA, after twenty-seven years as a science teacher, Ms. Comer was doing her part, and she got fired for doing it. The children are ultimately the losers.
The fact that this current episode has happened in Texas is not at all surprising given Texas Board of Education chair and ID supporter Dr. Don McLeroy’s statements in a 2005 pro-ID lecture at Grace Bible Church:
Creationists have been making these design arguments, but the birth of the intelligent design movement probably did start at SMU [Southern Methodist University, site of the ID movement’s first conference], [in] 1992. It was here that [Phillip Johnson] and Michael Behe, Stephen Meyer, and William Dembski, debated with . . . influential Darwinists the proposition that neo-Darwinism [depends] on a prior commitment to naturalism. Johnson . . . states, ‘Once it becomes clear that Darwinism rests on a dogmatic philosophy rather than on the weight of the evidence, the way will be opened for dissenting opinions [i.e., intelligent design creationism] to get a fair hearing.’ They hadn’t got there yet. We don’t have a fair hearing yet. But, we gotta keep working on it. This is not something that happens overnight. (The transcript and the audio recording of McLeroy’s speech are available here: http://www.tfn.org/publiceducation/textbooks/mcleroy/index.php.)
With Ms. Comer’s termination, the process of gaining that hearing appears to have advanced quite a bit.
The rationale given by TEA employee Monica Martinez, who wrote the memo recommending Ms. Comer’s termination, is not credible. Ms. Martinez contends that “Ms. Comer’s email implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that TEA endorses the speaker’s position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral.” First, Ms. Comer’s merely passing along an “FYI” about a public lecture implies nothing of the sort. (For the text of the announcement from the National Center for Science Education that she sent, see http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/TX/950_texas_education_official_force_11_29_2007.asp.) But that point notwithstanding, since my Austin talk was about the intelligent design creationist movement, one wonders why TEA would even want to remain “neutral” concerning the ID movement’s goal of undermining the integrity of science education in the very public schools that TEA should be protecting from that movement’s efforts.
Ms. Martinez continued, “Thus, sending this e-mail compromises the agency’s role in the TEKS revision process by creating the perception that TEA has a biased position on a subject directly related to the science education TEKS.” But why would the TEA be concerned about being biased in favor of teaching children the truth about science? The TEA’s proper role is to ensure the quality and integrity of what is taught in Texas science classes. My Austin presentation was most certainly not a threat to that role, but in fact highly supportive of it. I presented the truth about ID as established by years of scholarly research. Has the process of administering the public education system in Texas become so politicized that even the truth is a threat to people’s jobs? One can only conclude that it has.
Ultimately, the TEA’s firing of Chris Comer is a by-product of the relentless promotion of ID for more than a decade by creationists at the Discovery Institute. In the wake of court decisions ruling that it is unconstitutional to teach creationism in the public schools, ID creationists, a significant number of whose central figures live in Texas, launched the effort that they formalized in their 1998 “Wedge Strategy” document, which outlines their twenty-year plan to “wedge” ID into the cultural and educational mainstream. (See http://www.antievolution.org/features/wedge.html.) First Kansas, then Ohio, and most recently Dover, Pennsylvania, have experienced firsthand the attacks on their school systems that were produced, either directly or indirectly, by the Discovery Institute’s campaign, as stated in that document, “to see [intelligent] design theory permeate our religious, cultural, moral and political life.”
In 2003, Discovery Institute creationists tried, unsuccessfully, to influence the adoption of Texas biology textbooks. Texans should now prepare themselves for an attempt by the same people (and/or newly recruited supporters) to influence the upcoming review of state science standards. In order to be ready, the good citizens of Texas who value their public schools and the U. S. Constitution must familiarize themselves with the ID code terms they are likely to hear, all of which signal the ID movement’s attack on the teaching of evolution. ID supporters will declare that they certainly do not favor eliminating evolution or teaching intelligent design, but rather that they simply want children to hear “both sides” of the “controversy” and to learn to “critically analyze” evolutionary theory, so that they can understand the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution, and all of this will be for the sake of “fairness” and “academic freedom.” (For an explanation of these ID code terms, see my article, “Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals,” pp. 19-22, at http://www.centerforinquiry.net/uploads/attachments/intelligent-design.pdf.)
In fact, some members of the Texas Board of Education seem to have already mastered the Discovery Institute’s code language. Dr. McLeroy recently stated that “Anything taught in science has to have consensus in the science community — and intelligent design does not.” (Dallas Morning News, August 23, 2007, http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/082407dntexevolution.36418e1.html) He added, however, that he was dissatisfied with the fact that current biology textbooks don’t cover the “weaknesses” of the theory of evolution. His reference to the “weaknesses” of evolution is creationist code talk. Board vice chairman David Bradley also avowed that he would not support the teaching of ID in science classes. However, Mr. Bradley also appears to know the terminology: “I do want to make sure the next group of textbooks includes the strengths and weaknesses of evolution.” (Dallas Morning News, August 23, 2007)
Dr. McLeroy and Mr. Bradley are overlooking the fact that evolutionary theory has survived one hundred fifty years of scientific scrutiny for its “strengths and weaknesses,” whereas ID could not survive even six weeks of legal and scientific scrutiny in a Pennsylvania courtroom. Stephen Meyer and William Dembski, who, according to Dr. McLeroy’s lecture, are seeking a “fair hearing” for ID, were given a chance to present their best pro-ID arguments in that very courtroom. They just didn’t show up. (See Barbara Forrest, “The ‘Vise Strategy’ Undone: Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District,” at http://www.csicop.org/intelligentdesignwatch/kitzmiller.html.)
Dr. McLeroy’s 2005 ID church lecture is much more instructive than his more recent comments to the Dallas Morning News. In this lecture, he declared himself to be in the “big tent” of intelligent design: “Whether you’re a progressive creationist, recent creationist, young earth, old earth, it’s all in the tent of intelligent design. . . . And that’s one thing that I really enjoyed about our group is that we’ve put that all in the big tent, we’re all working together.” (This “big tent” is the political alliance that ID leader Phillip Johnson has tried to forge among the creationists with whom Dr. McLeroy has enjoyed working.)
McLeroy then professed his wonderment that during the 2003 textbook adoption process, “all the arguments” by “all the creationist intelligent design people” speaking before the Board of Education (among whom he specifically named “our good friend Walter Bradley,” a Texas resident and long-time Discovery Institute fellow) were not taken seriously by “my fellow board members who . . . were not impressed by any of this. . . . Amazing.” McLeroy was further amazed that “all the arguments are dismissed like this here is a subversive, secret attempt to force religion into science.” Now, why on earth would anyone draw that conclusion? Amazing.
The incident now involving Ms. Comer exemplifies perfectly the reason my co-author Paul R. Gross and I felt that our book, Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design, had to be written. (http://www.creationismstrojanhorse.com) By forcing Ms. Comer to resign, the TEA seems to have confirmed our contention that the ID creationist movement — a religious movement with absolutely no standing in the scientific world — is being advanced by means of power politics. In December 2005, Judge John E. Jones III validated our contention that ID is creationism, thus a religious belief, when he ruled in Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District http://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/kitzmiller/kitzmiller_342.pdf) that the teaching of ID in public school science classes is unconstitutional. Judge Jones recognized that ID has nothing whatsoever to do with science; its proponents are merely using public education — the public education of other people’s children — as the vehicle for their plan to undermine the teaching of evolution.
The one thing that should not be forgotten in this episode is that Ms. Comer herself has been injured, and Texas children have lost a valuable advocate for quality science education. I regret deeply that the TEA chose to use my work as an excuse to hurt Ms. Comer. Even more, I am incensed by it. However, what happened to her may be just the tip of the iceberg. This country has reached a sorry state of affairs when one of the largest, most prominent departments of education in the country fires a public servant for doing her job. But while I regret that the information I related in my presentation in Austin and in my book has been confirmed in such a sad way, my co-author and I have every intention of continuing our efforts as scholars and citizens to inform the American people about the threat that the intelligent design creationist movement continues to pose to public education and to the constitutional separation of church and state.
Barbara Forrest
December 5, 2007
The great MC Hawking: What we need more of is science“
Don McLeroy -will no one rid us of this meddlesome Dentist?
The irony is that what should be a huge embarrassment won’t actually phase them in the slightest. If it makes them stop what they’re doing and crawl under a rock, it’ll just fuel their martyrdom. If it doesn’t, they’ll end up in court where they’ll loose and, once again, fuel their martyrdom.
In no case will they be embarrassed. Even though they should be embarrassed. And held legally liable.
I attended Forrest’s talk, and this response is as brilliant as I would have expected from her. No one should let up for a moment on embarrassing the TEA over and over and over again for this brazen political chicanery.
Hey, I get that! It’s good.
Perfectly said. It’s a religio-political movement and nothing else.
Of course one has to see it as they see it: What good is Creationism’s Trojan Horse if its machinations are exposed?
The irony in this affair is that the forced resignation exposed their Trojan horse better than Forrest’s speech ever could have.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Nope. Michael Korn operates on the other side.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
I have a crush on Barbara Forrest.
Sure, but I enjoy the awkward silence (more properly, news blackout) regarding the matter on the cretinist and IDiot forums. Oh yeah, and the silly nonsense from FL &tc. on our forums, as their tiny brains attempt to turn the matter around to their preconceptions.
The activists are beyond embarrassment (you only have to engage any of them to know that—stupid only backs up previous stupid for them), but they still know when events don’t accord with their line of falsehoods.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Great stuff.
….implies that TEA endorses the speaker’s position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral.
Well, if that’s a firing offense, then Martinez should be summarily dismissed.
“Now, why on earth would anyone draw that conclusion? Amazing.”
Haha, the TEA just got pwned. The whole statement is winful.
Yes, Eamon! And so should McLeroy, given the many public statements attributed to him that demonstrate his undeniable and profound bias.
What are the chances Ms Comer can win an unlawful termination suit? Any movement afoot to take up collection for a legal attack fund? Feel discouraged there is not larger scale of outrage and determination to defend this woman with two children also supporting sick parent or relative. Not a lst Amendment issue here? Freedom of speech to send around FYI mail?! And for this we are supposedly killing thousands in Mid East?
Yeesh, that McLeroy goon looks like the BTK serial killer guy. And hes a dentist in charge of science curricula? gross. IDiots give me the creeps.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/members.html
It seems pretty clear that the putative basis for this was a pretext. Had this excuse not been available, something else would have been found.
It’s sad.
Hey tyaddow, that’s my angle. If anyone has a crush on Dr Forrest it’s me. So get in line, Bub.
I have a crush on Barbara Forrest.
Me, too!
Maybe Barbara Forrest can raffle off a date with herself, all proceeds going to Comer’s legal attack fund.
From Forrest’s article:
This is all you need to know about ID, people. Evolution has a NATURALIST bias. Only by overcoming i’s naturalist bias, ie insistence on evidence, will it be able to follow the evidence where it truly leads: Goddidit.
Teh stupid! It burns!
Thanks for all your good work Doctor.
Prof. Forrest is proving what we already knew from the Dover trial- she’s a national treasure.
As I understand it, resignation was tendered, so a wrongful termination suit would likely fall somewhere between a long shot and a lost cause. More promising would be a public demand for the of termination of those who are also committing the same alleged offense (“failure to remain neutral”) by virtue of their proclaimed support of IDC.
“Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals,” (paper linked in Barbara Forrest’s statement above) is excellent–check it out.
yay! PZ MYERS on beyond belief 2.0 – hehe, he’s ssososoo CUTE ;))amidst boring intellectuals from the audience who ramble on – he like deserves to be on the stage !
I have a crush on Barbara Forrest.
Is this the end of the line? OK… Let me add myself to the list.
Besides, she’s really geeky-hot: http://www.csicop.org/intelligentdesignwatch/images/bf.gif
That’s the picture, Marcus. The intellectual power in that beautiful head – wow! Now get back in line, Bub.
It seems pretty clear that the putative basis for this was a pretext. Had this excuse not been available, something else would have been found.
That’s not “pretty clear” at all, given Ms. Comer’s surviving 9 years with the outfit. This wasn’t about getting rid of Ms. Comer per se, it was specifically about her action — making people aware of Barbara Forrest’s talk that directly attacked and unmasked the agenda of creos like Martinez and McLeroy.
This was as clear a case of religious discrimination as one will see up till now. A legal challenge would probably turn up a paper trail of files, emails, and efiles that look a lot like the Central Committee of the Bolsheviks shortly before they grabbed the Kremlin. Comrade McLeroy has links of some sort to the DI, he uses their doublespeak word for word.
It is also blatantly illegal for a state governing body to be advocating a religious pseudoscience doctrine. Separation of church and state.
This is just Galileo or the Salem witch craft trials updated to 2007. Ms. Comer so far has been lucky. She hasn’t been sent to Siberia or burnt at the stake.
The creos could care less what anyone thinks. What is the use of being in power if your thought police can’t persecute a few hundred or a few million people.
This is just about power and money. Standard Fascism. Think Stalin, Pol Pot, the Taliban, or any other thugs in history. They wrapper changes but that is it.
I have a crush for Barbara Forrest. It’s orange and delicious.
@J Myers:
Two words – constructive dismissal.
Isn’t it nice to know that dentists like McLeroy have such awesome powers to correct scientists about what science is?
/sarcasm
Seriously, there is something seriously wrong with our boards of education in this country, and how any yahoo can win election.
Actually, if I remember correctly, members of the Texas Board of Education, e.g., McLeroy, are appointed. He landed his original appointment and elevation to the chair courtesy of the good gov,, whom Molly Ivins dubbed Gov. Good Hair or some such nickname which is rooted in his flamboyant pompadour. The good gov long ago went on record as supporting creationism just like his predecessor, Dubya. They do know how to mint ignorance in Texas, at least outside of Austin and a few other good places in the state.
Robin, is there such a thing as “constructive dismissal” in US employment law? Examples I found were all in the UK.
It comes to my attention that the “don’t put fluoride in the water it’ll make our kids communists!” crazies are back, with thicker tinfoil hats.
Where does Dr. McLeroy stand on fluoridated water?
[No, that’s not intended to be the straight line it no doubt is.]
So far I’ve seen Houston Chronicle and Waco Times editorials against Comer’s expulsion, which is a good start.
I liked this list of historical church-state atrocities compiled by Rick Casey in the Chronicle too:
Actually, the Texas SBOE is an elected body. McLeroy has been on the board for almost 10 years (thanks to the people of Bryan-College Station), but was only appointed to head the board this past July. TEA is getting ready to review and revise science standards next year. I hope this brings some attention to the process and the bias of the head of the board.
@J Myers:
The concept of constructive dismissal is simply the common-law doctrine of repudiatory breach of contract applied to the employment relationship. On this analysis if the employer gives the employee a choice between being sacked (in breach of contract) or resigning, the resignation is treated as an acceptance of the repudiatory breach. I am not a US lawyer, but the root doctrine is a common law doctrine, and hence presumably exists in US law, even if nto develoepd to the extent it is in England & Wales.
Presumably some concerned citizen could ask for copies of correspondence and emails under the FOI?
Of course this should only be done if Ms Comer is agreeable – I would not like to see her situation complicated by unwelcome interference.
Is it just me, or wouldn’t Ana Gasteyer (pretty geeky-hot herself) be perfect for the title role in a Barbara Forrest bio-pic?
“The irony is that what should be a huge embarrassment won’t actually phase them in the slightest.”
The homophone you are in need of is faze. A perfectly good word and easy to spell.
Compliments are nice, but why don’t we each buy a copy or two of Forrest’s new paperback edition? Cause a run on the book. Send a copy to a science teacher in Texas, preferably an elementary school science teacher. Here’s a chance to react twice positively. The Amazon.com link is posted above; I’m making a trip to B&N this afternoon.
Is it too late to retroactively let the southern states secede? They just import federal cash and export stupidity, so it’s a crummy deal for the rest of the country.
Many of these comments suggest that we all run out and buy more of Dr. Forrest’s books and flood-Texas-with-them. Excellent idea!
In addition, with You Tube being as powerful as it has become in communicating with video, why not create a BARBARATHON of endless watching of Barbara on You Tube. Send these links and start a VIRAL VIDEO CAMPAIGN to get the people of Texas watching and listening to what she has to say.
EVOLUTION VS. CREATIONISM:LISTEN TO THE SCIENTISTS
EPISTEMOLOGY
PURPOSE & GOALS OF CREATIONISM
HISTORY OF EVOLUTION VS. CREATIONISM
SCIENCE TEACHERS CHALLENGED
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
THE EFFECT OF THE ABUSE OF SCIENCE ON DEMOCRACY
THE POSITION OF SCIENCE IN THE U.S. TODAY
Five new Barbara Forrest videos will be placed on You Tube this weekend.
START THE VIRAL VIDEO SO THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS CAN DO MORE THAN READ WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY (READING IS ALSO GOOD).