The State Board of Education has begun a two-day process to adopt new science materials for Texas public schools.
A public hearing got underway this morning on a list of instructional materials recommended by Education Commissioner Robert Scott. Liberals such as Kathy Miller with the Texas Freedom Network like the list.
"I actually think the Board should adopt the recommendations made by Commissioner Scott with no changes and no last minute amendments that aren't made by teachers and scholars serving on review teams," Miller said this morning.
But socially conservative observers say students should be required to question the theory of evolution.
"The commissioner's list is one part of the process," Jonathan Saenz, with the Liberty Institute said. "I think you're going to see the State Board of Education take issue with some of that, to make sure that they have standards where they can examine all sides of theories. And if these materials don't do that, they should be rejected."
The Board is set to take a final vote Friday, so that the science materials can be in classrooms by the fall.
