1:40 - I'm back after the lunch break.
Terri Leo is amending Biology, and McLeroy intends to do so, too. Uh, oh.
Leo's Biology amendment: "(D) analyze and evaluate the evidence regarding formation of simple organic molecules and their organization into long complex molecules having information such as the DNA molecule for self-replicating life."
Bob Craig asked Leo if this amendment has been discussed with any of the six science experts. Her answer was no. The amendment carried 9-5. Agosto and one other member voted with the seven radical religious right members. Once again, a change was made to the Biology standards by a religious right member with no scientific justification from a science expert to support it. On the face of it, the addition does not seem to be bad, certainly not as damaging to science as the two bad amendments made in January, but I am still very unhappy with the process. This is very unprofessional, having non-scientists adding specific standards to the Science TEKS.
Mavis Knight has now made the motion to amend the Biology standards by striking the 7B amendment made two months ago in January by Don McLeroy: "analyze and evaluate the sufficiency or insufficiency of common ancestry to explain the sudden appearance, stasis, and sequential nature of groups in the fossil record;" Dunbar and McLeroy both objected to the motion. McLeroy called it a "very excellent standard that deserves to be supported." He mentioned Dr. Genie Scott's criticism of the new 7B standard. The vote to remove McLeroy's standard failed 6-7-1, Rick Agosto abstaining. You know where the seven No votes came from. The motion would have failed even if Agosto had voted Yes. We need him to vote Yes tomorrow or the science content of the Biology standards will be permanently damaged. The 7B standard is currently pseudoscientific.




