For those who think Texas public schools suck: do worry

They're about to get a whole lot worse.

The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state's social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.

Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.

Yup. No-good "liberal" figures such as Chávez (who revolutionized and vastly ameliorated the working conditions of thousands) and Marshall (first Black to serve on the US Supreme Court ever) are thrown out the window, and the rest of the curriculum emphasizes how America is Christian at heart and how it was founded with biblical standards in mind (which, as is becoming increasingly exasperating to point out, IT WASN'T as it was founded upon HUMANISTIC morals and values such as right to life, liberty, security, etc.). Just fucking perfect. As if schools in Texas couldn't be shittier. (I know. I've been there.)

Apparently these "conservative reviews" (or "wingnut hacks") state that the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution, the "checks and balances" system, is actually – get this – a scriptural interpretation from the Bible about "original sin" (ie. that all men are inherently sinful), which they dub "radical depravity" (owch). Sorry, religious nuts, but it doesn't take original sin to make a single unified government a very bad idea, hence requiring a bicameral Congress at best. It's called human nature. (Which is what nuts interpret as a result of original sin, I guess.)

The curriculum, they say, should clearly present Christianity as an overall force for good -- and a key reason for American exceptionalism, the notion that the country stands above and apart.

"America is a special place and we need to be sure we communicate that to our children," said Don McLeroy, a leading conservative on the board. "The foundational principles of our country are very biblical.... That needs to come out in the textbooks."

...

Shut up, Don.

Below are some (but, sadly, not all) of the suggested and anticipated changes that are winging their way into Texas classrooms.

• Replace Thurgood Marshall with Harriet Tubman or Sam Houston
• Delete Anne Hutchinson from a list of colonial leaders
• Delete César Chávez from a list of figures who modeled active participation in the democratic process
• Include more study of religious revival movements
• Replace references to America's "democratic values" with "republican" values"

A couple of the other suggestions make a bit of sense – such as emphasizing the study of original documents as opposed to textbooks from authors that merely represent the authors' interpretations of said original documents, or rewording references from minorities' "contributions" to society, to their "role" in society. But the rest – the ones listed above – are just batshit stupid. Nothing but another stupid and disingenuous attempt at removing those Evil Liberals references and their positive impact on society whilst boasting about how great religion is and how America is a Christian nation.

It's positively vomit-inducing to realize this bullshit is what's gonna be crammed into schoolchildren's heads for years to come.

(via Forever In Hell)

Continued ...»

A bit of good news and some more bad news from the TSBOE

There's a very bittersweet mixture of joviality and depression in the air: it's confirmed that Cynthia Dunbar will not be the next head of the Texas School Board of Education.

Instead, Gov. Rick Perry decided to go ahead with Gail Lowe (R-Lampasas), a creationist sheep who pretty much does anything she's told to do by the likes of Dunbar and co., anyway. From the Texas Freedom Network Insider blog:

Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller is releasing the following statement regarding Gov. Rick Perry’s appointment today of Gail Lowe as the new chair of the State Board of Education.

“It’s disappointing that instead of choosing a mainstream conservative who could heal the divisions on the board, the governor once again appointed someone who repeatedly has put political agendas ahead of the education of Texas schoolchildren. Ms. Lowe has marched in lockstep with a faction of board members who believe that their personal beliefs are more important than the experience and expertise of teachers and academics who have dedicated their careers to educating our children and helping them succeed. We can only hope that she will rise above her history on the board and as chair keep the board from continuing to hold the education of our children hostage to divisive ‘culture war’ battles.”

Methinks that's alot of wishful thinking. After all:

Lowe’s record on the State Board of Education includes:

In 2004 Ms. Lowe opposed requiring that publishers obey curriculum standards and put medically accurate information about responsible pregnancy and disease prevention in new high school health textbooks.

In 2007 Ms. Lowe voted to throw out nearly three years of work by teacher writing teams on new language arts standards. Over the strenuous objections of teachers and curriculum specialists, Lowe instead voted for a standards document that the board’s far-right bloc patched together overnight and slipped under hotel doors the morning of the final vote.

In 2003 and 2009 Ms. Lowe supported dumbing down the state’s public school science curriculum by voting to include unscientific, creationist criticisms of evolution in science textbooks and curriculum standards.

And just in case you thought she might change her path now that she's the head, think again as she proves once again that crazies of a feather, flock together:

If you’re hoping things on the state board will improve under Ms. Lowe, don’t hold your breath. She appointed David Barton, an absurdly unqualified political activist, to the so-called “expert” panel for the social studies curriuclum revision. Barton has already called for removing from the curriculum historical figures like César Chavez whose politics he doesn’t like.

And the endless battle against the forces of ignorance and wingnuttery in Texas rolls on.

(via Pharyngula)

Continued ...»

If you thought Don McLeroy was bad for public education in Texas ...

Then this news might make you spill your coffee over your keyboard as you choke on it. Texas crackpot governor Rick Perry is now pushing Cynthia Dunbar (R-Richmond), who's widely known for her incredible godbot-ness, having written the book One Nation Under God, and has openly said she despises public education, for the chairman of the Texas State Board of Education.

Yeah, putting her in charge of the very establishment she openly hates sounds like a very good idea to me, too.

“It would certainly cause angst among the same members of the pagan left that rejected Don McLeroy because he was a man of faith,” said David Bradley, R-Beaumont, one of the seven socially conservative members on the 15-person board.

Perry’s office declined to comment until “a final decision is made.”

Ooh, the "pagan left" – what a zinger! Admittedly one I've never heard before and that's so utterly random I hope never to hear it again, but still! Sounds to me like someone is angwy that poor ickle McLeroy was given das boot ...

In case we weren't clear enough on how large a crackpot Dunbar is, here's some more info for your noggins:

In a book published last year, Dunbar argued the country’s founding fathers created “an emphatically Christian government” and that government should be guided by a “biblical litmus test.” She endorses a belief system that requires “any person desiring to govern have a sincere knowledge and appreciation for the Word of God in order to rightly govern.”

Also in the book, she calls public education a “subtly deceptive tool of perversion.”

The establishment of public schools is unconstitutional and even “tyrannical,” she wrote, because it threatens the authority of families, granted by God through Scripture, to direct the instruction of their children.

Dunbar home-schooled her own children.

She just sounds better and better, doesn't she?

Basically, the overall article describes Dunbar as the best choice because she makes wingnut conservatives happy. Right, no need to get a moderate who would make both sides happy – or just someone who's not a totally deluded crackpot who would ruin education in Texas for who-knows-how-many years to come. As long as she makes fellow kooks and cranks happy.

The USS Texas Education isn't just sinking; it's plowed right into the ocean bed and has crumpled into a million pieces by now. Chances of recovery: slim-to-none. Only option: get outta there.

Continued ...»

Liberty University actually taught one of its students something important!

That student is Brian Diaz, who was the President of the College Democrats organization at Liberty University before the "university" decided that liberals and progressivists were against the conservative wingnuttia they wished to promote in favor of Christianity and disbanded the whole group (whilst keeping the College Republicans intact, of course). The lesson? Simple and evident: get the fuck out of Liberty University and, as Richard Dawkins once put it so aptly, "find a proper university".

“My time as President of Liberty University College Democrats has been a great and enjoyable experience.

I learned how to work together with my counterparts, the College Republicans, I also learned the asset that is patience, and I learned a little bit about something called trust.

Throughout my term as President I have spent numerous days and hours working to make a difference on the Liberty University campus.

I established a Faith caucus within the Virginia Young Democrats, a caucus of which I now chair. I worked closely with a number of campaigns, candidates, and issue based groups to bring parts of the democratic platform to the students at Liberty University.

Our club received the “Up and Coming club of the Year” award while I was President, as well.

Although I have put in a tremendous amount of work this past year, I believe that based on the dismissal of Maria Childress as our club sponsor, as well as an email from the administration to me stating that, “You are distorting the truth, and you know it. You have no credibility with me” forces me to resign as club President and look for other educational opportunities by the means of transferring to a new institution.

I do not wish to speak badly about the Liberty; I only wish to be apart of an institution that fosters diversity within its student body. I am deeply saddened by this decision but I feel that with the present administration the Liberty University College Democrats cannot be effective.

I hope that I can transfer to an institution this coming fall that will continue to help me develop my education, bipartisanship, and leadership skills. I will be applying to a number of schools including Virginia Commonwealth University, Randolph College, and a number of other universities across the Commonwealth.

I wish all the best to the Liberty University College Democrats, and I hope that this situation will not hinder anyone but will encourage political involvement, and standing up to what youth believe in.”

A little kiss-ass, perhaps, but no-one sheds the bullshit the likes of which LU is part of in a single bound. Small steps, one at a time, and Brian is already coming along well. Who knows – maybe others will follow in his footsteps. Though hoping that the bulk will is perhaps wishful thinking. (And at worst, insanity.)

Continued ...»

Maybe you shouldn't have tried to proselytize your beliefs, Johnnie-boy

John Freshwater, an Christian Ohio school teacher, was fired after he was accused of teaching Christianity in his classroom. You know, "classroom", that place that is supposed to be purely secular unless it's Bible Studies or whatever, the place where religious teachings simply have no place unless they're specifically called for? Well, now the good Xian is suing the school district for – holy shit – one million dollars. I wonder if he actually thinks he's gonna get it.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio school teacher fired over accusations that he preached Christianity in class says in a $1 million lawsuit that his free speech and civil rights were violated.

John Freshwater, an eighth-grade teacher in Mount Vernon, northeast of Columbus, also says he was harassed because of his religion, was defamed and suffered a hostile work environment.

The lawsuit against the school board and school administrators was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Columbus.

The Mount Vernon school board fired Freshwater last year, citing an internal investigation that found he had preached his Christian beliefs in class.

Freshwater was also accused of using a scientific device to burn a cross image onto a student's arm and of keeping a Bible on his desk.

I really wonder what the hell that's supposed to mean, "using a scientific device to burn a cross image onto a student's arm". Could I smell the potential for a lawsuit against assault here?

This guy really is nuts if he actually thinks he has the slightest chance of milking a million bucks from a school district, when they fired him for preaching to a choir that couldn't less want to be preached to.

Continued ...»

Yet more hope for Texas

Texas seems to be on the road to reason for once, and the news is good: not only has Don McLeroy been kicked off the chairman's spot on the Texas State Board of Education, taking his pathetic "Strengths and Weaknesses of Evolution" policy along with him (if only temporarily), but also, two bills that would've introduced powers to grant degrees to Bible-thumping kooks straight out from the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) and added more creationist language to the state education curriculum, have been shot down.

What was less publicized was a bill in the Texas State Legislature to pull an end run around the Coordinating Board by exempting ICR’s graduate program from the regulations governing degree-granting institutions in Texas.

Another bill introduced in this legislative session would have restored the ID creationist “strengths and weaknesses” language to the Texas Science Standards.

Both bills have now died due to the adjournment of the Texas legislature. So there’s a bit more hope for Texas: Don McLeroy is out as Chairman of the State Board of Education, the creationist “strengths and weaknesses” language is not in the standards, and the ICR is still not certified to award phony graduate degrees in science education.

It's not over yet, and really, never really is, of course; there still plenty of upcoming opportunities for these bills to weasel their way back into effect, but as with McLeroy's ousting, we can at least cheer for now at the idea that Texan schoolchildren won't have any more creationist nonsense peddled into their skulls.

Continued ...»

Strike Three for Don McLeroy

I know it's "old news" already (in blogosphere terms, anyway, seeing as it's a few days old), but I still need to mention and celebrate: Don McLeroy, the creationist dentist chairman of the Texas State Board of Education – the tool who endlessly promoted the passing of the ridiculous and false "Strengths and Weaknesses" policy regarding scientific subjects (especially evolution) – is no longer chairman!

On May 28, 2009, McLeroy's nomination as Chair of the Board of Education failed to gain Senate approval since only 19 of 30 Senators voted for him, falling one vote short of the 2/3 majority needed for approval.

Forgive the source of the article being Wikipedia (I know how y'all are foaming at the mouth for "reliable" sources), but all the reports I could find on Google seemed to stem from creationist or otherwise religious news sites, sites which I personally wouldn't trust to give me the time of day, much less news of this nature.

Of course, McLeroy is just one of many idiots already present on the board, and undoubtedly he still holds a certain amount of sway over them; at least he's just not officially chairman anymore. Unfortunately, it's likely that Gov. Perry will just name some other creationist idiot instead. Thus seems to be the road so often taken in Texas. But, for now, we can cheer.

I know I've been a bit lax on blogging the past few days, being busy writing and creating videos for my songs (three of which are now online), but I'm now stuck at school – which, of course, means I have plenty of time to blog now. =)

Continued ...»

Excluding both religion and non-religion from South Carolina school classrooms

A new bill has been proposed for the southern end of Carolina, and it's ... well, odd. It seems to be a mixture of good ideas and warped illogic. Full text below.

TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 29 OF TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-15, TO PROVIDE THAT CURRICULUM USED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF MANKIND MUST MAINTAIN NEUTRALITY BETWEEN RELIGIOUS FAITHS AND BETWEEN RELIGION AND NON-RELIGION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT CURRICULUM THAT DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED NEUTRALITY MUST BE REVISED OR REPLACED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 29 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-29-15. (A) The General Assembly finds:

(1) that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution makes wholly applicable to the states the First Amendment's mandate that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of or prohibiting the free expression of religion;

(2) that the individual freedom of conscience protected by the First Amendment embraces the right to select any religious faith or none at all;

(3) a proper respect for the First Amendment compels the State to pursue a course of neutrality toward religion, favoring neither one religion over other religions, nor religion over non-religion or the inverse;

(4) that atheism is a school of thought that takes a position on religion and the existence and importance of a Supreme Being;

(5) that the United State Supreme Court recognizes atheism as equivalent to a religion for the purposes of the First Amendment; and

(6) that teaching atheism or any of its principals, including, but not limited to, the denial of the existence of a Supreme Being, as a philosophical system of beliefs or in a manner that affirmatively opposes or shows hostility to religion, thus exhibiting a preference for those who believe in no religion over those who hold religious beliefs, violates the First Amendment.

(B) The State Board of Education shall examine all curriculum in use in this State that purports to teach students about the origins of mankind to determine whether the curriculum maintains neutrality toward religion, favoring neither one religion over other religions, nor religion over non-religion, including atheism. Related to non-religion, the examination must include a review as to whether the curriculum contains a sense of affirmatively opposing or showing hostility to religion, thus preferring those who believe in no religion over those who hold religious beliefs. The duty to review curriculum imposed by this section is continuing and must reoccur periodically after the initial review in order to assure compliance with this section.

(C) If the board's examination determines that any curriculum fails to maintain the neutrality required by subsection (B), the offending curriculum must be revised or replaced as soon as practicable, but no later than the beginning of the next academic year.

(D) This section does not prevent classes being taught pursuant to Section 59-29-230."

Seeing as reading this sort of droning legal mumbo-jumbo is probably giving you all nosebleeds by now, it basically simplifies into the following points:

• That the government will neither promote nor denigrate religion, nor will it advise religion over non-religion (such as atheism);

• That atheism, being a school of thought, is therefore basically a religion, and is considered as such in light of the First Amendment;

• That school curriculum shall be reviewed, and that no instances where either religion or non-religion are promoted are to be allowed in classrooms; and

• That Christian Bible classes are to be exempt from governmental intervention as they're courses specifically for learning about the Christian Bible.

The basis of the bill, which is that the government is to remain neutral on religion (and non-religion) and that neither shall be enforced in school classrooms, is of course perfectly acceptable – it's exactly what we're hoping for. The bill does however get muddied-up a bit, particularly when it describes atheism (aka. the specific rejection of deities and corresponding religions) as a religion itself. Is it so hard to understand that religions aren't just sets of beliefs; that they require doctrine, someone to guide and act as a spiritual leader, and one or more deities to worship? Atheism is explicitly the rejection of all that hoowah. It's simply a belief that there is no God(s). There are no atheist temples or churches, no rituals or prayers or sermons, nothing to worship and no-one to bow down to. Categorizing it as a religion simply because it is a school of thought on the (in)existence of God is just ignorant.

Overall, I do agree with this bill. It doesn't try to introduce religion or creationism in public classrooms (not that I can tell at least, in my limited capacity of not being a legal expert or analyst), and actually expressedly forbids the government from taking part in either pushing religion or removing it, which can only be good.

Biggest surprise yet: it's a bill being introduced by a Republican insurance agent. A Republican who isn't trying to screw up education by flooding kids' minds with piousness and dogma and superstitious silliness ... Now that's something you don't see every day.

(via Pharyngula)

Continued ...»

"Let the students and teachers decide how old the universe is"

Which is pretty much the message, word-for-word, stipulated by the ever-laughable Texas State Board of Education in a recent hearing. Who cares what all those damned scienticians think, right? What do astronomers, astrophysicists, geologists and etc. say; hell, why accept any info or statistics you don't like, if the Bible gives you an alternative?

These are the buffoons left in charge of the children in Texas education. Owch.

(via Pharyngula)

Continued ...»

Fundamentalist Christian school decides they have authority over their pupils outside of school, too

All that 17-year-old Tyler Frost wants to do at the end of the school year is to take his girlfriend to her school's prom. But he might have some troubles if he does so – or so his fundamentalist Christian school is threatening, telling him he'd be suspended if he so much as visits the prom. And don't even think about beer or sex, he may as well pack his bags at once.

But then, the school (Heritage Christian School in northwest Ohio) also bans dancing, rock music, kissing and even holding hands, so really, what else would you expect from such a bunch of control-freaks?

The teen, who is scheduled to receive his diploma May 24, would be suspended from classes and receive an "incomplete" on remaining assignments, England said. Frost also would not be permitted to attend graduation but would get a diploma once he completes final exams. If Frost is involved with alcohol or sex at the prom, he will be expelled, England said.

Frost's stepfather Stephan Johnson said the school's rules should not apply outside the classroom.

"He deserves to wear that cap and gown," Johnson said.

I'm certainly not saying he doesn't deserve to graduate, but frankly, you probably should see this sort of ridiculousness coming if you sign your kid in a fundamentalist Christian establishment, no?

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.

Yes, because you and other Christians always know exactly how to please God, don't you? Despite you always saying no-one can ever know what He's thinking or planning or what He even wants, yet you're always following His will ... ha.

Here's a hint, bub: somehow, I doubt God would be happy with you overstepping your bounds and punishing a good kid and earnest student and depriving him of his diploma just for having a little innocent fun for one night in his bland monotonous life.

(I just assume it's bland and monotonous because he's the sort of kid who goes to a fundamentalist Christian school.)

This isn't just an issue pertaining to wackaloon religious schools; one of my problems with schools and establishments is how they always seem to consider whatever you do outside their walls as deserving to be noted on your report cards. A student shouldn't have to fear that whatever they do or don't do beyond a school's jurisdiction would reflect on how the school treats them.

Schools are for education, and nothing more, and it does irritate me a fair bit when they think they serve any further purpose than that. Ethics, morals and right-from-wrong, you learn from your parents until you define your own world view. Academics are the school's responsibility – and nothing more or else. About time they grasped that notion.

Continued ...»

This is why we don't want these idiots governing education in Texas ...

Below is a video from one of those Texas State Board of Education hearings – you know, the inane amalgamations of stupid during which idiots bickered on how best to present evolution in class – and truly, it's a shining example of why we don't want these airheads anywhere near the education steering wheel of children's schools. Some old twit stands up and spews silly inanity for about eight minutes about how stasis disproves evolution (it doesn't, it's not even fuckin' related), and uses as an example, the cockroach, claiming it's been exactly the same for 4.5 billion years ... Ooowch, my brain hurts.

Someone ship him to a hospice already, and kick the rest of these imbeciles out of children's educative future. Please?

(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Continued ...»

Good and bad news for Texas education: which do you want first?

Few school boards are as patently idiotic and genuinely incompetent as the Texas State Board of Education, which has the terrible power of controlling all Texan educational facilities and sanctioning what can or cannot happen. It's especially bad considering their chairman is the idiotic Don McLeroy – you know, that Creationist dentist who lies out of both sides of his mouth?

Fact is, he's just the worst of the equation; the rest is also pretty scary, considering the rest of the board is also composed of witless ideologues, hypocritical theologians and regular old incompetent fools. Really, whatever few voices of reason the Board still retains have been outshined and silenced long ago.

The Board, particularly McLeroy, are also known for constantly trying to push their religious bullshit through into Texan schools and facilities and trying to discredit Darwinian evolution through one manner or another. Their aim is to present Creationism – repackaged as "Intelligent Design" (which the Dover trial clearly proved was basically "Creationism from a lawyer's ass", as I like to think of it) – as a "second viewpoint", an "alternative", to evolution. This, of course, could only work if evolution wasn't a rock-solid theory that's been as "proven" as any theory can possibly be, years and years ago, time and time (and time) again, and has more grounding evidence than gravity for Christ's sake. There are no other viewpoints, no more than there are other viewpoints to heliocentrism or to the existence of DNA. It just "is", it's a fact of nature, and the only way anyone can deny it is either through ignorance, delusion (aka indoctrination), or plain utter stupidity.

They tried it again just last March, although thankfully this was once again repealed. Unfortunately, they were able to introduce plenty of bullshit policies and rules and whatnot that really screwed up scientific education in Texan school classrooms, notably by forcing teachers to present the "pros & cons" of most or all theories and established facts. I wonder how they'll manage to find fault with the theory of gravity. How clouds stay in the air, perhaps? (Don't laugh, it's been used before.)

There is some good news, though. Texas Legislature is now cracking down on these Board morons in a long-awaited and (very) much-needed revamp of the Texas education department:

The legislative session so far has not been kind to the State Board of Education.

Senate confirmation of Board Chairman Don McLeroy, R-College Station, is dead in the water, the Nominations Committee chairman said Thursday.

The House of Representatives approved a constitutional amendment Monday that would move the investment decisions about the $17.5 billion Permanent School Fund away from the board to an appointed council of financial professionals.

And a bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill to take away the elected board's authority over curriculum and textbooks.

What? The government is putting people who actually have brains in charge of schooling children? What a novel idea!

So McLeroy's out the window along with the rest of his Board's powers ... Oooh, this is fantastic.

And yes, as per this post's title, that was actually the good news. The bad news, however ... well, it's pretty damn bad. If you thought that was the last of the Texas State Board of Education's idiocy, prepare for a rude awakening.

Indeed, the TSBE is now moving away from screwing up scientific classes to ... screwing up social studies classes as well. You know, the courses in which students actually learn about the world around them. (What they don't know from videogames and the Internet, at least.)

The Texas State Board of Education is set to appoint a social studies curriculum "expert" panel that includes absurdly unqualified ideologues who are hostile to public education and argue that laws and public policies should be based on their narrow interpretations of the Bible.

Holy mother of Mary, that sounds bad enough as it is without any details. But just who are some of these "absurdly unqualified idealogues" being appointed to direct social studies in Texas?

The answer: the worst kinds possible.

TFN [Texas Freedom Network] has obtained the names of "experts" appointed by far-right state board members. Those panelists will guide the revision of social studies curriculum standards for Texas public schools. They include David Barton of the fundamentalist, Texas-based group WallBuilders, whose degree is in religious education, not the social sciences, and the Rev. Peter Marshall of Peter Marshall Ministries in Massachusetts, who suggests that California wildfires and Hurricane Katrina were divine punishments for tolerance of homosexuality.

The two have argued that the Constitution doesn't protect separation of church and state and hold a variety of other extreme views related to religion, education and government, TFN President Kathy Miller said.

"It's absurd to suggest that Texas universities don't have accomplished scholars in the field who are more qualified than ideologues who share a narrow political agenda," Miller said. "What's next? Rush Limbaugh on the 'expert' panel? It's clear now that just appointing a new chairman won't end this board's outrageous efforts to politicize the education of our schoolchildren. It's time for the Legislature to make sweeping changes to the board and its control over what our kids learn in public schools."

"With Don McLeroy's confirmation hanging in the balance in the Senate and lawmakers considering 15 bills that would strip the state board of its authority, these board members continue trying to push extremist politics into Texas classrooms," she said. "It's as if they're daring the Legislature to call them on it."

Barton, former vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party, is a self-styled "historian" without any formal training in the field. He argues that separation of church and state is a "myth" and that the nation's laws should be based on Scripture. He says, for example, that the Bible forbids taxes on income and capital gains. Yet even such groups as Texas Baptists Committed and the Baptist Joint Committee have sharply criticized Barton's interpretations of the Constitution and history.

Oh my God, I've just had my skull crushed in via an anvil of Stoopid and Christofascism. Who would'a thunk it? Texas is screwed. Again.

Just to fulfill my self-flagellistic needs, here are some quotes from Reverend Peter Marshall:

[On why Christian parents should send their kids to Christian schools rather than public schools:]

Wouldn't it be far better for them to have a consistent and Biblical worldview that will enable them to grow, not only in knowledge and learning but in moral and spiritual stature, to the point that even before they finish their education they will be committed to being "salt and light" in our society, and helping to bring America back to God?

---

I find it utterly beyond belief that any person who calls himself or herself a Christian could under any circumstances vote for a candidate (Obama) that supports abortion on demand and special rights for homosexuals (beyond those already in the Constitution)! How, in the name of all that is holy, can a Christian vote for someone that takes a position directly contrary to the explicit Word of God?

---

If, as I suspect, the financial meltdown is part of His judgment on us because of our growing moral and spiritual rejection of His standards, then He may very well let us sink into severe straits in order to bring us back to Himself. Perhaps we will not come to repentance about abortion and homosexuality and pornography and gambling and greed and sexual immorality and all the rest of it until the economy is so bad that we cry out for mercy.

...

*Cries*

And it doesn't even get any better with David Barton, propagandist.

There truly is a difference between Congressional Republicans and Democrats, and nowhere is this difference more evident than on traditional moral values. The Democrats' cry of ‘partisanship’ is simply a smokescreen to divert attention from the lack of a moral compass that permeates their Party.

However, in the wake of the impeachment vote, the Democrats are finally clamoring for something that America actually does need: bi-partisanship. America does need two parties standing up for what is morally right-America does need two parties demanding accountability for the acts of all individuals regardless of their social position-America does need two parties seeking to preserve the moral foundations of the nation. Up to now, the only thing preventing this bi-partisanship is the Democrats.

The current partisanship exists only because the overwhelming majority of Democrats demand on the defense of what is morally indefensible and refuse to join with the overwhelming majority of Republicans who continue to defend what is morally right. It is time for Democrats to heed their own call and become bi-partisan, joining with the Republicans in defending America's great moral values.

And the mystery of why there isn't more bipartisanship between Republicans and Democrats continues.

(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars and Pharyngula)

Continued ...»

It's totally not about the porn

No, for once I'm not being facetious. The University of Maryland's planned screening of a hardcore porno flick, in defiance to actions that constitute nothing short of censorships on the part of the government, is less about the sexual nature of the film, and more about shoving free speech and academic freedom in the nosy self-righteous gov't's face.

"What we're upset about is somebody is trying to control what goes on on campus. This is symbolic," said Liz Ciavolino, a sophomore who is active in the group Feminism Without Borders.

In response, one conservative state legislator revived his threat: If the porn flick is shown on campus, the university might just kiss some state dollars goodbye.

A university spokesman declined to comment last night.

The tale of the scheduled screening of "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge" has roiled the university's flagship campus and hit newspapers as far away as Australia.

I'm 100% for this – not only do they directly defy self-serving political figureheads, they even get some porn out of it. What's not to like?

The government has absolutely no right to decide what goes on in universities. That's for the student and administrative bodies to decide on their own parts.

I do see an awkward side to this though – boys will remember how excruciatingly embarrassing it was to suffer through a stiffie in the middle of class ... How will this play out, an entire auditorium viewing a hardcore porn flick?

Continued ...»

Sadly, America is not the only place with homophobic wretches ...

IMPORTANT – It's now been shown, beyond reasonable doubt, that this is a hoax. First, there were the suspicious 'letters', the paper trail of incriminating eMails sent back and forth between Ninoska and Tassy Knightly, which appear(ed) to have been doctored (a bit of text was misaligned, which certainly does not happen on its own in HTML, and appears to be the result of a not-quite-perfect Copy & Paste operation); and just now, PZ Myers over at his post on this topic at Pharyngula has just pinpointed that several commentators on the thread, along with the user of the site that originally hosted the pics before it was removed (a highly suspicious action in and of itself), actually come from the very same IP address. Perhaps not absolutely incriminating, but this shows beyond reasonable doubt that not only were the eMails faked, but that posters claiming to be Ninoska and Tassy, along with a few others, are impostors. It's my conclusion, according to the evidence, that the whole thing is apparently a lie aimed at discrediting and defaming the College Ninoska supposedly was flunked from. Quite unfortunate that many were lead into this. At least now its a matter for the courts.

Canada has them too, far more than we're given credit for. The only difference is ours tend to be more hush-hush – homophobia is heavily discouraged in our culture and common mindsets – but every once in a while it does rear its ugly head, though always eventually squashed (rightly so) by outraged reprisals.

The following is a story that personally touches me – not only because it's an outrageous and at times heartbreaking story about virulently homophobic discrimination against an innocent and defenseless person, but because it even happened right here, in Gatineau, in Québec. I do hate it when these sorts of stories emerge from my homeland – like anyone else would hate it when criminally vile events occur in their homelands, I suppose.

In this case, it's the story of Ninoska, a College student who was intentionally flunked out of her courses to become a Registered Nurse, by her homophobic teacher who describes her distaste for lesbian nurses. Below is the full content of the horrible eMail sent to Ninoska from the bitch teacher, Tassy Kingsley (who apparently can't capitalize worth a damn – as if she needed further discrediting).

Nioska, I've been thinking about the meeting in rita's office and I feel that maybe Nursing is the wrong career for you. As a nurse, I have to advocate for my patients, and i feel that female patients will be uncomfortable having a lesbian nurse caring for them. You do not provide a sense of security to patients when you keep important information from them. Your sexual orientation is something important that patients have a right to know so that they can decide if they wish to have you as their caregiver. I myself am not homophobic at all, but I would not want a lesbian nurse caring for me when I am vulnerable. I would just not feel comfortable with that.

I think it might be best if you see student services to explore other career options that do not involve physical interaction, and intimacy. It wuold look better if you left nursing out of your own accord, rather than get kicked out.

i am just being honest. at the beginning of the rotation you asked me to be honest in my feedback, and i am doing just that.

Tassy

... Thus again irrefutably proving that anytime where someone starts a sentence by 'I am not an anti-[minority], but ...', it's crystal clear that, in fact, they very much are despite their pathetic cowardly claims to the otherwise. 'I am just trying to help' ... No, you are just trying to ruin this poor girl's education, potential career, and life, according to Ninoska's personal account further below.

For anyone interested in venting, send some eMails to Tassy at TKINGSLEY@cegep-heritage.qc.ca. (Once again, Pharyngulites never cease to satisfy any sleuth's needs in terms of digging stuff up.)

There is quite a long story behind this, which anyone interested can follow over on Ninoska's Flickr page, which chronographs her perilous history with this Tassy wretch.

Ninoska then wrote a full account of everything that happened – and what it pushed her to doing.

I am a second year Nursing student. One week after sending receiving this email from my clinical instructor, she failed me in my Pediatrics clinical rotation. The official infractions were cited as "wrinkled uniform, rudeness and disrespect." To fail clinical, means you fail the class. You fail the class; you're out of the program. On December 12, 2008 I was permitted to write my final exam, leading me to believe that I had succeeded in stomaching the nauseatingly difficult semester. However, at my clinical evaluation, which took place right after the exam, I was informed that I had failed clinical. Since clinical itself was not worth a numeric grade, it was just "pass" or "fail", my grade was dropped from 92% to 50% - to reflect the fail.

I commenced the appeals process immediately, and at first nobody was interested in allowing me to plead my case. It wasn't until I sent the appeal to the Ministry of Education, and they contacted the school, that the College realized my dismissal from the program was based on much more than academics. The college decided that it would do an internal investigation.

This internal "investigation" has dragged on now for four months. Over the past few weeks the college has become sadistic in their actions. When one of the emails was posted on reddit.com, both the College and the clinical instructor were inundated with hate emails. The college sent me a "Cease & Desist" letter, threatening legal action if I continued to "[spread] information that is false, defamatory, or that could cause prejudice to anyone at the college."

However, after sending this "gag order", the school felt that it was their right to inform my Nursing class that I "suing the school for homophobia" (at that point, it was just an academic appeal, which is supposed to be confidential). I will never deny my sexual orientation; however, it's also not something I feel the need to go out of my way to inform others about, especially if it's not relevant. I was not "out" to everyone in my class, as the topic or opportunities never presented themselves in the academic setting. The school felt it was their responsibility to "out" me.

Events culminated when the College demanded I hand over my hard drives, laptops, and desk top computers (all belonging to me). I realized that the reason the appeal was dragging on was because the College knew the clinical teacher is in fact a racist, homophobic bigot, but tenureship and a union gave her immunity - including the right to discriminate. Therefore, it was vital that I somehow be discredited.

The demands, the humiliation, the degradation, the dehumanization was only going to end when I was discredited, or when I decided to walk away. The realization was overwhelming and suffocating. I attempted, but failed to commit suicide by slashing my arms.

Due to being in hospital, I was unable to meet with their investigator for a second time. I had requested the right to attend this meeting accompanied by someone, and it was denied. When they were informed that I was not able to attend the meeting, they demanded a Medical certificate with a diagnosis, [which is never detailed in a doctor's note (privacy, confidentiality)], for their "investigation" to proceed.

I gave them the medical certificate, which they stated it was necessary to have a diagnosis clearly indicated. Their insistence and persistence confirmed my suspicion that the only reason they wanted the diagnosis (suicide attempt) was so it could be used against me. I refused to acknowledge my reason for being in hospital, and demanded that attention be refocused on my initial complaint.

An issue that should have been resolved long ago is now cascading into other areas of my life. Yesterday morning I found out I was denied admission to the College I was requesting a transfer to. It is the first time in my whole life I have ever been denied admission to any post secondary school. The reason for being denied admission was cited as "weak grades" - which on my transcript laced with 80s and 90s, the only weak grade I have is the 50 from pediatrics.

I have yet to receive from the College a response or conclusion of the investigation, and my appeal.

This is just fucking sad, even more than it is outrageous. They pushed this poor girl to fucking attempted suicide ... and they're still trying to discredit her. Even trying to use said attempted suicide against her.

Is there really anything I can say that would make that more poignant?

All I can say in light of this horror of a story, is that thankfully, despite the occasional stupidity and hate, Québec is actually one of the most accepting places in the world to homosexuality, and the laws, federal and provincial, that protect people's rights in this sort of scenario are many, clear, and very harsh. I do hope these despicable excuses for human beings get everything they've ever had and ever will have skewered out of them by a well-deserved lawsuit, and that poor Ninoska will regain her well-deserved education and be a successful RN.

Continued ...»

Florida falls behind in crazies race. ... Which is good.

Remember how Florida just tried to pass a bill that was unpleasantly reminiscent of the old Texan 'Strengths and Weaknesses' anti-Evolution crap? Good news: it's a FAIL.

Anti-Evolution Bill Still A Fruitless Exercise

TALLAHASSEE - A bill aimed at undercutting acceptance of evolution in Florida science classes, which kicked up a fuss but didn’t pass in the Florida Legislature last year, apparently is going nowhere this year.

A Senate version of the bill has yet to receive a committee hearing and has no companion bill in the House.

That means, said one proponent of the idea, that the bill has little chance of passage in this frantic session, heavily devoted to cutting and balancing the state budget.

“With no companion in the House, it doesn’t have much likelihood,” said Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.

Another small battle won in the great war against Creationism. Next!

Continued ...»

Sneaky Florida again with creationism stupidity in school

While the Texas State Board of Education is getting all the press these days for their noted debating on how to teach Evolution in Texan schools (it was a near miss, though they're still chipping at science bit by bit as Dr. Myers explains), helmed by the ignoramus Don McLeroy, other creationist states have been left out lately. Apparently, Florida resented that, as Senator Steve Wise, a Jacksonville Republican (need I even point out his political affiliations if he's a creationist?), has just sneakily introduced a bill that pretty much mandates the exact thing that we were hoping to avoid from the Texas Education Board: an introduction of the fallacious 'Strengths & Weaknesses' rule targeting Evolution in favor of Creationism.

And though it has yet to have its first hearing, the bill has the science community is up in arms.

You may remember this hot-button issue from 2008, when Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, pushed similar legislation after the state Board of Education explicitly mandated the teaching of the scientific theories of biological and chemical evolution.

This language in this year's bill from Wise is pretty similar to the version pushed last year by Hays – not banning the teaching of evolution, but allowing teachers to question it in science class. Storms had focused her version more on job protections for teachers who criticized the theory.

Here's what Wise's bill would require: "A thorough presentation and critical analysis of the scientific theory of evolution."

The Florida Academy of Science says the bill "leaves the door open for the introduction in the public school curriculum of nonscientific and covertly religious doctrines."

Talk about sidestepping a pothole just to fall down a manhole. Not only was this done, but it was done silently – the defining measure used by creationists (when not honking madly about the evils of atheism and Evolution) to try and introduce their stupid theological beliefs in scientific classrooms. Cowards.

Continued ...»

Small smack to creationists: stupid 'Strengths and Weaknesses' rule is defeated in Texas

Recently the Texas State Board of Education held meetings and debates to determine the next decade of schooling curriculum – not to mention how Evolution was to be taught in Science classrooms. One of the creationist advances against Evolution was the attempted implementation of the stupid 'Strengths and Weaknesses rule', which would oblige teachers to give a 'fallacy' in the Theory of Evolution for every strength it had in explaining biological development over space and time.

Thankfully, the measure has been defeated – though by an exceedingly narrow margin: 7:7. Imagine – one more ignoramus on the Board and schoolchildren would've been spoon-fed lies and disinformation for a whole fucking decade. True Texas.

AUSTIN – In a decision watched by science educators across the nation, the State Board of Education on Thursday narrowly turned aside a last-ditch effort by social conservatives to require that "weaknesses" in the theory of evolution be taught in science classes in Texas.

Board members deadlocked 7-7 on a motion to restore a longtime curriculum rule that "strengths and weaknesses" of all scientific theories – notably Charles Darwin's theory of evolution – be covered in science classes and textbooks for those subjects.

At least the battle's over – for now. The war sure as Hell ain't, though. Not as long as Religion is the dominating voice over reason and intelligence in Idiot America.

Continued ...»

HMS Texas Education is sinking into sea of anti-Science stupidity

The Texas State Board of Education has a mile-long track record of stupidity when it comes to deciding schooling curriculum in Texas insitutions of education, especially when it comes to Science classrooms and the teaching of Evolution. They are arguably a pillar in the world of the Evolution vs. Creationism debate, a living testament to the infernal retardation of the Southern US, which is only supported by the hilarity of them electing, as their leader, Don McLeroy ... a creationist, an incompetent copycat, and a dentist.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against dentists. It's a fine career for those who somehow like playing around in people's mouths all day, and they do fine work (most of the time anyway). I just don't think dentistry has any credibility when it comes to deciding how to govern Science education in public schools, particularly the teaching of Evolution, no more than paleontology has credibility in psychology. It's just not their field. So, already, that's strike one against McLeroy's credibility as Leader of the Texas schooling board. Why didn't they choose to elect someone in the domain of, say, education, for starters?

And of course, him being a creationist (strike two!) is just par for the course when it comes to southern conservative officials. It is deplorable that he's allowed to lead the entire State Education Board, though. Normally, it would be funny, in an ironic way, that someone who allows his stupid and patently wrong and thoroughly scientifically-disproven beliefs to blind him to all the evidence there is for Evolution ... if it wasn't so terrifying that he's directly at the helm of one of the largest school boards in America.

And lastly, he's also a plagiarist (strike three)! He tried to cast doubt on Darwin and his theories by reading aloud several quotes that, turns out, weren't his, but were cherry-picked and quote-mined from a variety of other sources, notably a creationist blog. He's tried to negate this like a coward, but of course, the evidence is there for him to wallow in it, the stupid twit. How stupid does he think we are?

Anyway, enough about this tool. The real point of this post is to warn folks: the Texas Education Board is now holding a week of debates that will conclude by deciding how Evolution will be taught in Texan school classrooms. They are once again attempting to reiterate the flawed and cowardly 'strengths and weaknesses' approach to trying to discredit Evolution, where they pretend to analyze Evolution's weaknesses, despite the fact it has none (everything is explained, everything fits, and those who deny this are simply ignorant). It's an attempt that's already been defeated a while back, and now is resurfacing, rearing its ugly head in hopes that we can jab its eyes out again.

So, what can you do to influence the Light of Reason to shining down on these idiots and leading the way? You can either follow a live-blogging session that will cover the event, or you can show up and testify for yourself. This probably will be rather ineffective, but it certainly is better than standing by while your kids' futures (and your own, if you're still in school) are being decided by incompetent deluded morons with an agenda to peddle through.

Lord help Texas.

Continued ...»

Battle it out like gladiators, kids

Here's yet another shining example of stuff that truly only happens in America (particularly down south): a Dallas school is under intense suspicion and surveillance following numerous reports of forcing its students to solve their problems 'like men' – ie. throwing them in a metal cage and forcing them to fight it out bare-knuckled.

The report, first obtained by The Dallas Morning News, describes two instances of fighting in an equipment cage in a boys' locker room between 2003 and 2005. It was not clear from the report whether there were other fights.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa told the newspaper that there were "some things that happened inside of a cage" and called the fights "unacceptable."

No criminal charges were ever filed, and there was no mention in the report of whether anyone required medical attention or whether any employees were disciplined. A district spokesman would not comment.

I wonder why, whenever accused or barbaric stupidity like this, those being accused of it never seem to be inclined to comment ... hmm.

Certainly a disturbing story like many others that seem to be flooding out from the place, but then, one's gotta remember: it is Dallas, Texas, Retarded Hick American Land, after all.

Thanks to Melissa for sending me this story.

Continued ...»