What? Rationalism coming out of Texas? They got flying swine too?
It appears that science is prevailing in the latest battle over Texas schoolbooks.
Though earlier this year several of the state’s textbook reviewers called for biology textbooks to discuss creationism, publishers are not complying with those requests, according to the Texas Freedom Network. The nonpartisan watchdog examined material made public by the Texas Education Agency and found that publishers are sticking with teaching evolution.
Citizens who serve on the Texas review panels are charged with making suggestions about proposed classroom texts that are being considered for the state's list of “approved” schoolbooks. While most reviewers on this year’s biology panel made routine, noncontroversial suggestions, some took issue with the fact that the proposed books did not include information about creationism while focusing on evolution.
However, information that publishers submitted to the Texas Education Agency show they are not incorporating the suggestions about "creation science" and plan to print books free of references to the theory of intelligent design.
Link
Of course, since this is Texas, there's always a caveat:
In November, the Texas Board of Education will decide which books it will recommend for schools to use. It's not clear how the failure to include creationism will impact the recommended list. However, even if specific textbooks are not recommended, school districts will still have the option of using them.
Still, these publishers refusing to codify superstition has to be considered a good thing, and it's Texas.