Evolution revolution? Science teachers are cautiously cheering state education updates

Jeremiah Fuentes isn't completely sold on the idea that humans and other living beings evolved from lower life-forms. But he doesn't see a problem with teaching evolution in the classroom, either. (Talk about education on our forums)

"I don't believe in evolution, but I don't see it as an issue," said Jeremiah, a 14-year-old freshman at the South Texas High School for Health Professions, commonly known as Med High.

He and his classmates said learning about evolution is just part of their science instruction in school, and they don't really see any conflicts.

"You've got to learn what they give you. I believe in evolution and I believe in God, too," said Leandro Sastre, a 14-year-old freshman. "(Evolution) is easier to prove than creation because you have so many religions."

A recent, tentative decision made by the Texas State Board of Education may make it easier for science teachers in public school to teach the popular scientific theory. And that has teachers in the Rio Grande Valley relieved, for now.

For at least a decade, the state required public school science teachers to discuss the "strengths and weaknesses" of evolution and any other theory in class.

Critics said the requirement was a way for more socially conservative members of the board to sneak intelligent design and creationism into the classroom. Proponents said it actually promoted critical thinking and was a way for students to learn more about evolution.

Science teachers in the Valley didn't experience much pressure from local districts or the community on how to teach evolution.

Perhaps that is because most people in the Valley are Catholic, and the Catholic Church — as well as mainline Protestant denominations of Christianity — have backed off from the evolution debate, said Bob Soper, a retired science teacher and an ordained minister with the Episcopal Church.

But the state mandate did place a burden on teachers to include ideas the majority of the science community has rejected, said Soper and other members of the Rio Grande Science Association, which is comprised of science educators from all over the Valley.

"There's a place to teach religion, just not in the science classroom," said Soper, who taught for the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district for 10 years and was a science coordinator for the district for 19 years.

He and other teachers worry that last-minute language added by more socially conservative members of the state education board to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards for science would require teachers to discuss intelligent design and other theories that challenge evolution.

That amendment would require students to "analyze and evaluate the sufficiency or insufficiency of common ancestry to explain the sudden appearance, stasis and sequential nature of groups in the fossil record." Board members passed that amendment in a 9-6 vote, according to the Texas Education Agency.

"I don't trust these people at all," said Soper, an original member of the Rio Grande Valley Science Association. "These people have an agenda and (that agenda) is not in the best interest of the students of Texas."

Curriculum standards are updated every 10 years, and the "strengths and weaknesses" language was added about a decade ago, according to the Texas Education Agency.

The "strengths and weaknesses" provision was put in place as a compromise after members of the state education board could not agree on science curriculum standards, said Mary Helen Berlanga, one of the board members who represent the Valley. She was among the eight board members who voted in favor of removing that language last month.

"It's the right thing to do for our children and grandchildren," she said.

But those who support retaining the language said the board's decision will stifle critical thinking and silence teachers and students who have questions about evolution and other theories.

"Many state board members just ignored their constituents," said Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affairs for the Free Market Foundation, a faith-based organization dedicated to influencing public policy.

He said the board received thousands of letters and calls from parents and students across the state asking members to keep the language in the standards.

While proponents of the language's removal claim the "strengths and weaknesses" requirement is an attempt by some to include intelligent design and other theories, Saenz said the language actually is about making sure students learn more about evolution by having the ability to have further discussions on the theory.

"Are we going to teach part of evolution or teach all of it?" Saenz asked.

But science teachers, including Soper and Michael Wertz, who teaches at Med High, said by arguing evolution, which is widely accepted by the scientific community, schools hinder students' ability to learn science and threaten Texas' role as a leader in science-related industries.

"We're not trying to proselytize evolution, but we do (view) evolution and natural selection as tenets of science," Wertz said.

The State Board of Education is expected to take a final vote on the changes next month.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.