Transcript of NPR podcast

Podcast Referenced by Tracey Luskin

" From WNYC in New York this is NPR's on the media I'm Brooke Gladstone. And I'm Bob Garfield. A battle over religion and science policy ended last Friday with the Texas board of education voting to change its standards for the science curriculum. Which includes biology which includes evolution which means."

" A final vote is expected today a new rules concerning the teaching of evolution in Texas public schools. Decision that could impact what your children learn in science class."

" The winning years Texas has required teachers to explore the quote. Strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories but critics argued that the phrase blurs the line between church and state."

" The Texas board of education voted to do away with the strengths and weaknesses clause because many argued permitted the teaching of creationism. By playing up the so called weaknesses of -- spirit. But chairman Don Mac Le Roy who has publicly declared that the universe is just 10000. Years old. Gave an impassioned speech and hearing arguing that he had scientific evidence that evolution is flawed. And it these flaws should be highlighted in the science curriculum -- it's not."

" Complicated it doesn't take mathematics. I disagree with these experts somebody's gotta stand up. To experts."

" And so they amended the standards to encourage students to analyze quote all sides of scientific theories. Seems fair but it -- Eugene Scott is executive director of the national center for science education."

" Standards that were adopted are going to be used just like the previous standards to tries to. Can -- Serb publishers to change their looks."

" Previous standards caused textbook publishers to change wording about the last ice age so -- not to conflict with creation missed time lines. All textbooks bought by Texas public schools must comply with the standards since since Texas spies more high school textbooks then in the other state. It influences books everywhere. Tiny changes in Texas standards have become the front lines for those like Scott who are trying to get creationism. Out of schools."

" Do you much clearer because anti evolution has argued that you should just bring creationism in the classroom but of course -- In the United States that doesn't work because the First Amendment says youth camps. Advocate religion in the public school also they have to give up on that strategy we're seeing creationism evolving in. Response to -- legal environment SQL its its aquarium it's a very revolutionary system in that regard."

" No one on the Texas board not even -- Mac Le Roy was arguing that creationism should be in the science curriculum but Eugene Scott says. That's just a tactic."

" You don't actually mentioned creationism because that gets in trouble with the court's. But if you just -- evolution just convince students that evolution is not valid and then the students what they would you teacher could happen. And that gives a creation this teacher an opportunity to say well you know perhaps he should just read Genesis. So -- creationism by the backdoor."

" The front door was slammed most recently in 2005. With the federal case of cats Miller versus Dover in Pennsylvania. Kenneth Miller is co author of one of the most popular biology textbooks in the country and he testified in Dover as an expert."

" Witness and at the end of that trial the judge whose name is John Jones the third and I should point -- a lifelong Republican and an appointee of president George W. Bush. Rule a couple of things first of all that intelligent design simply wasn't so. Than intelligent design was actually nothing more than creationism relatable and it had been re labelled it deliberate attempt. To conceal its religious identity. As the judge pointed out this kind of concealment. Basically violates the First Amendment which requires that the state evil local school board be neutral on matters of religion. This brings us to the discovery institute can you tell me about that organization and how it played into Dover and similar cases around the country will the discovery institute is Avery well funded think tank. That has several groups within it and they have a group within called the committee on science and culture which is headed by Stephen -- The coauthor of a pamphlet entitled intelligent design in public school curricula. It's clear that their arguments and their publications and her ideas were very much behind with the school board wanted to do. And were part of the reason for the trial happening in the first ports. It seems like the controversy. Is rooted and B word theory. Which -- means one thing in common language. -- would be a supposition. And a very different thing in scientific apartments. In story it's what the word theory does is it means a unified. Test able explanation. That actually explains. How different facts how observations help fossils facts about genetics or molecular biology how these can all fit together. So the interesting thing is that theory. Actually over presents a higher level of understanding that in fact fact is just -- single isolated were pupil observation. A theory is something that explains how all these specs put together and we use the word fury like atomic theory for example. Not because we're not sure that Adams a real were pretty darn sure but rather because atomic theory explains all these isolated observations and facts."

" You're an author correct what happens when your publisher says to you and we were faced with these guidelines we've got to and a massage the language to accommodate. The Texas board of education what you said."

" My coauthor -- Levine an ally when we embarked on this project of writing a textbook we each made a promise to which. That we would never write anything. That we scientists. Would be ashamed to show or scientific call X. And in the more than twenty years that show when I have worked together we've never had to violate that pledged to reach. I'm hoping. That when we look at the literal wording of the Texas standards. Will still be able to produce a book that will meet the letter of the Texas requirements. And will not compromise anything scientifically but I can also tell you that. If we come to the conclusion that we would have to say things that are that are generally contradict. On the consensus within the scientific community we have to basically put down the -- touch the keyboard. And say sorry we're not going to participate were perfectly willing to do that. We just haven't come to that conclusion yet."

" Kenneth Miller is author of the book only a theory evolution and the battle for America's soul. The discovery institute says its position is that intelligent design should not be part of the curriculum. But insists that there are serious weaknesses in the theory of evolution. That's why the discovery institute's Casey Luskin is thrilled with the decision of the Texas school board."

" The new -- science standards require students to analyze evaluate and critique I you know political revolutionary concept like natural selection. Each patient and common ancestry and we really think it's. Teaching evolution in this manner that allows students cute how hard questions and really investigate analyse the issue is the best way to teach science. --"

" The issue -- our -- assigned to the controversy over evolution. And of course."

" So I guess we'll tell you that there is no controversy but the reality is that during the hearings going to Texas State board of education. We saw a number of key state biologists."

" For a top institutions come -- testify. About their -- to pick out an evolution."

" Are you familiar with the fallacy of favorable enumeration. It says that you find a handful of examples that support your premise. And you focus on them to the exclusion of the vast preponderance. Of circumstances that don't support your premise. -- that's called cherry picking grant Garrett was not the assembly of five Ph.D. evolutionary biologists who. Have issues with the Darwin's theory not just cherry picking from the whole universe of science in the subject."

" There's a list of over 750 -- scientist. Who have scientific doubt about it and you Darlene evolution. And it has a lot more who I think we're doing a finalist -- people -- fearing for their jobs and what would happen to them if they were Q you know basically coming out of the closet. End voice dissent from dollars and."

" So it's in the position of the discovery institute that this consensus this worldwide scientific consensus. On evolution. Is a function of intimidation of descending voices."

" Deter the consensus. Is a term that's used basically to publish down."

" Scientific fact."

" Thank you the national academy of scientists make assertions should -- our apologies export revolution. When you hear that kind of statements being made it would have created a climate of intolerance."

" They killed academic freedom for scientists to discuss adopt an evolution in their loved their concert in their research. And it really mean this kind of tolerate it really does exist because we've seen the carnage from."

" Casey Luskin is a policy analyst with the discovery institute. Christine can steal -- or could be labeled a victim of the culture of intolerance but not being a creation -- In 2007 she was the Texas education agency director of science it position she'd held for nine years but she happened to forward -- email announcing the top by Barbara forest. It pro evolution author and expert witness in the Dover trial. She forwarded the email to a list several local science teachers with three letters FY. RI."

" And within two hours. I would called into -- not my direct supervisor Brett Ratner. Deep -- supervisor of the division and he gave me a piece of paper. And -- it's good that I had just gotten something that would take fireball offense. I'd better -- allowed to give my opinion. On creationism. And I thought to myself wait a minute I didn't give my opinion. He said well I'd like you to send out -- an email that tells people this is not the position of the agency."

" So -- immediately send off another email telling the list serve to ignore the previous one. The issue resolved she took few days off to celebrate the birth of her first grandson but when she returned she was told she could resign and get a month's pay or else be fired immediately with no severance. She chose the former."

" I would -- to say the least and I. Very quickly get I have to I can't believe this year actually -- over evolution."

" Homer was told misconduct and insubordination. Was the official reason but it might as well of been. Played."

" They -- by the way you weren't not to speak of this to anyone. And then they escorted me to my office and they actually had evacuated. The entire floor. There were coffee cup on desks should you know -- still want to be more IV but no one on the entire floor. It would it would think if I had committed murder."

" So what does this stiff rocked director of science think of the recent ruling."

" It's gonna be difficult for teachers because. I think this opens the door for students to bring anything into the class Germans say well here's my diet and I want to talk about. The teachers that feel confident that had a good administrator what can wait a minute that's not scientific you can't bring that -- but the teacher that is not so well versed. And who has a board and an administrator. That is openly hostile that teacher if it's going to be bound to just have to teach any kind of pseudoscience. Very sad day protections."

" That's just 12 story."

" Yeah this is on the media from."

" This is on the media. I'm Bob Garfield and I'm Brooke Gladstone."