Re: Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:01:13 -0500, Steven L. wrote:

Kermit wrote:
On Nov 30, 9:12 am, Bodega <michael.palm...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says

AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 (AP) -- The state's director of science
curriculum said she resigned this month under pressure from officials
who said she had given the appearance of criticizing the teaching of
intelligent design.

The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days'
paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer
called a forced resignation.

The move came shortly after she forwarded an e-mail message announcing
a presentation by Barbara Forrest, an author of "Creationism's Trojan
Horse." The book argues that creationist politics are behind the
movement to get intelligent design theory taught in public schools.
Ms. Comer sent the message to several people and a few online
communities.

Ms. Comer, who held her position for nine years, said she believed
evolution politics were behind her ousting. "None of the other reasons
they gave are, in and of themselves, firing offenses," she said.
Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the
matter. But they explained their recommendation to fire Ms. Comer in
documents oained by The Austin American-Statesman through the Texas
Public Information Act.

"Ms. Comer's e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies
that T.E.A. endorses the speaker's position on a subject on which the
agency must remain neutral," the officials said. The agency documents
say that officials recommended firing Ms. Comer for repeated acts of
misconduct and insubordination.

The officials said forwarding the e-mail message conflicted with her
job responsibilities and violated a directive that she not communicate
with anyone outside the agency regarding a pending science curriculum
review.

The documents criticize Ms. Comer for giving a presentation and
attending an off-site meeting without approval. It also said she had
complained that "there was no real leadership at the agency." [entire
story]

It's
at:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us/30resign.html?
_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref...

'"Ms. Comer's e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies
that T.E.A. endorses the speaker's position on a subject on which the
agency must remain neutral," the officials said.'

So the agency must remain neutral about teaching science in the science
classes?

No. Read the article again.

What got Ms. Comer in trouble was when she brought in this Barbara
Forrest character to give a talk. Not on the science, but on the
alleged *motives* of ID proponents. IOW, she implicitly endorsed Ms.
Forrest's ad hominem attack on the ID proponents.

:s/Ms./Dr./

Can you give an example of an ad hominem that she used? Based on my
reading of her work, she simply presents an exhaustive (and exhaustively
cited) list of the IDers' own words.


And THAT is a subject she should remain neutral on. As director of
science education, she can and should deal with the *scientific
arguments* of ID proponents, not with their politics or their motives.

If Ms. Comer had brought in a scientist to give a talk on the flaws and
illogic of ID, she might not have been fired. But she brought in
someone who engaged in ad hominem attacks and political smears of ID
proponents, and that's out of line.

I keep having to explain this every time someone brings it up.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says
    ... AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 -- The state's director of science ... The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days' ... paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer ... Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says
    ... AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 -- The state's director of science ... The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days' ... paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer ... Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says
    ... AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 -- The state's director of science ... The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days' ... Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says
    ... AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 -- The state's director of science ... The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days' ... paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer ... Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says
    ... AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 -- The state's director of science ... The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days' ... paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer ... Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the ...
    (talk.origins)