Texas: Meanwhile, in the Trenches...

The Abilene ReporterNews writes that the new rules for science standards will have little effect on how things are done in the classroom in the Abilene Independent School District:

"I cannot see that changing this statement will have any effect on the teaching of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for science in AISD," said Gaile B. Thompson, the district's executive director of secondary education.

"The science TEKS have always included teaching the processes of evolution," she continued, "and the revised TEKS continue to include those processes."

Other reactions were similar but also suggested that there is frustration with the process.

Dan Allen, a biology teacher at Abilene High School, said Friday that he plans to continue teaching the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theory. "I don't, at this point in time, think that this will have a direct influence on my teaching in science classes," he said.

"I will continue to teach the strengths and weaknesses of all scientific theory," he added. "Such is the nature of science. It is regrettable that a group of people who are not scientists have such an influence on the teaching of science."

As Bob the Cucumber would say: "Ain't that the truth."