Coordinating Board Rejects Creation Science Degree Proposal

It's not often that there's news items generated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, but today is one of those days. The Coordinating Board rejected a degree proposal from Dallas' Institute for Creation Research for a Master's degree program that would educate science teachers in the doctrine of creationism rather than the recognized consensus of Darwinian evolution. From the Dallas Morning News' article:

Citing the group’s teaching of creationism rather than evolution in its science curriculum, Dr. Paredes said it was clear the school would not adequately prepare its graduates to teach the scientific principles now required in Texas public schools.

“Evolution is such a fundamental principle of contemporary science it is hard to imagine how you could cover the various fields of science without giving it [evolution] the proper attention it deserves as a foundation of science,” he said.

“Religious belief is not science. Science and religious belief are surely reconcilable, but they are not the same thing.”

Henry Morris III, chief executive officer of the institute, contended that the school would prepare students to “understand both sides of the scientific perspective, although we do favor the creationist view.”

Bravo, Coordinating Board! There is science and then there is creationism. They are not two sides of the same thing nor are they both scientific.

Lord knows we have enough problems with our public education system without having to fight this battle.