SBOE testimony

[Steve]

Info from TFN:
Thank you for your interest in testifying on proposed new science
instructional materials under consideration by the State Board of
Education. I want to walk you through the details on how to sign up to
testify and pass on some suggested talking points for your testimony.
Please note that you MUST register with the Texas Education Agency to
testify... Here is how:

Registration will be accepted tomorrow, Friday, July 15, and Monday,
July 18, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You must fill out the attached registration form.
When filling out the form, please note that you have no affiliation.
You must also identify whether you are a registered lobbyist.
The item to be addressed is: Instructional Materials Submitted for
Adoption by the State Board of Education Under The Request for
Supplemental Science Materials
You can fax the form to 512.936.4319, or you can register by phone by
calling 512.463.9007.
Testifiers will be listed to speak on a first-come, first-served
basis. The earlier you get your registration form in on Friday
morning, the more likely you will be able to testify.
Please bring 35 copies of your written testimony to submit to the
board and TEA staff.
Testimony will be limited to two minutes. The board is usually strict
about keeping testimony to that limit, although board members might
ask questions (which then extends a speaker’s time).

If you have any questions regarding this information, please do not
hesitate to contact the Texas Freedom Network at 512.322.0545.

The meeting on Thursday, July 21, begins at 10 a.m. at the William B.
Travis Building, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. Click here
for a map to that location. We recommend that you arrive by 10 a.m.
Be prepared to stay at the meeting until late in the afternoon. It can
often be cold in the meeting room, and it is always good to bring
snacks. However, there is a cafeteria on the first floor, and the
board does tend to break for lunch.

The Texas Freedom Network also recommends that you focus your
testimony on two crucial points regarding the materials adoption:

The state board must not adopt the International Databases materials.
Those materials promote “intelligent design”/creationism and are
therefore scientifically and factually inaccurate. Moreover, federal
courts have already ruled that teaching “intelligent design”/
creationism in public schools is unconstitutional.
The state board must not force publishers to make changes to other
science materials that weaken instruction on mainstream evolutionary
science.

Please click here for more information and background on the science
adoption.

Thank you for your time and support. It is critical that individuals
such as you be involved in this process. Again, if you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judie or Garrett at the
Texas Freedom Network.

Judie Niskala Daniel
Outreach Coordinator

Texas Freedom Network
P.O. Box 1624//Austin, TX 78767
512-322-0545
www.tfn.org

The Texas Freedom Network advances a mainstream agenda of religious
freedom and individual liberties to counter the religious right

[Steve]

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=2147499573 = link to sample
of the supplemental materials

btw the links in the previous message may not work, and the file of
the form requesting a chance to testify was not attached, I can send
the file if you email me at sbra...@gmail.com
.

[Steve]

It turns out that the intelligent design offerings were not included
in what the SBOE will look at. Apparently someone at TEA realized that
ID does not fit into the science curriculum. I am still going to
testify and encourage the Board to resist future anti-science
incursions -- not that it will matter a great deal.

[John Kingman]

Good luck, Steve.

I haven't gotten a feel for how the board has changed since McLeroy,
so let us know how it goes. My guess is that Cargill is nearly as bad
as McLeroy as chair, but I haven't heard much about the new members.

John

[Steve Bratteng]

Thanks John, 

It might be possible for her to be even worse, inasmuch as she has seen what has happened to her radical predecessors, and therefore might be more covert. A lot depends on how the legislature views actions of the Board. I am thinking that with the new congressional alignments, the right-wing might have reduced the number of moderate to liberal regions there will be. This would dilute the effect of those few that have any sense at all. We shall see.

[John Kingman]

Steve,

Just saw this on my Google alert page:

New Study Shows Major Textbook Publisher Fails to Comply With Texas State Science Standards

It's a study by Casey Luskin at the DI, and he may be there to testify as he has before. As a former high school biology teacher, perhaps you could express your opinion to the Board regarding the "study" and/or the publisher in question (Pearson / Prentice Hall).

John

[Steve Bratteng]

That's good to have. I'm not sure how, in 2 minutes, I will be able to make all the points that need to be made; however, I am confident that Steve Schafersman will have something to say about the points made by the DI.

[John Kingman]

It will be tough, but maybe listing your points and pointing out that two minutes isn't enough time to go into detail on all, could at least give the good guys (if any) a chance to ask questions to give you more time.

[Steve Bratteng]

I suppose there are some good guys. But, I don't think my rep is one of them. The people that get asked questions typically have an established relationship with a Board member. Years ago when my rep was one with some sense, I had such a relationship. He retired several years ago, and the ones replacing him have been bad news. 

I will try to think of something that they might notice -- short of going in costume. And, I will submit written stuff to go with it. Most won't read it, but it will go into the official record.

Did you sign up? They still are taking names Monday, if you want to give it a try.

[John Kingman]

My guess is that they've probably already got too many speakers. Even at two minutes I don't think they'll hear more than 70-80 in only four hours.

My rep is the dipwad Ken Mercer, unfortunately.

John

[Steve Bratteng]

Yeah, If I were not retired, I probably would not have considered going. My rep is the replacement for Dunbar, so she probably could not be that bad. But, I have a strong feeling that she is not very supportive of evolution without the "alternatives."

She has kept a low profile so far -- at least I haven't seen anything from her. So, I will wait and see if she is as bad as I suspect.

[Clare Wuellner]

I like that idea, John.  Over the past several days, I've been turning over in my head what I want to say and wasn't sure how I could cover it all.  If I use your idea, I can at least outline it all in my public record.

 

Clare

[John Kingman]

Clare,

I hope some of the "good guys" will get a clue about the strategy of
the fundies and take the opportunity to ask leading questions too.

I had read somewhere that Cargill was going to cut off testimony after
four hours, so I hope you get your chance before that happens.

Good Luck!

John

[Steve Bratteng]

It is correct that testimony will take place for only 4 hours -- unless Cargill changes her mind. I see no reason for this to happen.

I have a printed statement to give them and will just hit a couple of main points. The Board get 35 copies. Since there are only 15 members I wonder what 20 other people get them.

If I get a chance I want to talk to my rep -- the one who took Dunbar's spot.

[John Kingman]

Speaking of Mercer, he's apparently watching his back now. I hope he
goes down. Bradley has also been redistricted, and he's another of the
“true Christian conservative” faction.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=10905

[Steve Bratteng]

The most unfortunate thing about the Board is that, for the most part, they actually represent their constituencies.

[Harrison Saunders]

When and where is the meeting?

[Steve Bratteng]

The testimony starts at 10am tomorrow. They are doing something today, tomorrow, and Friday. The venue is the Travis Bldg. at 17th and Congress.

--

Steve

[der Brat]

 

[Clare Wuellner]

William B. Travis Building, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. Click here for a map to that location.  Don't know when actual testimony starts.