News: Creationist school fights ruling.

June 2, 2008, 11:14PM
Creationist school fights ruling

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5815341.html


Institute appeals state's decision to prevent offering of science
education degree

By JEANNIE KEVER
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

A Bible-based school and research institute has asked the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board to reverse its decision not to allow the
school to offer a master's degree in science education.

A spokesman for the Institute for Creation Research said the appeal
"paves the way" for it to file a lawsuit against the state agency.

But first, the issue will go to an administrative hearing. Joe
Stafford, assistant commissioner for academic affairs and research at
the coordinating board, said the independent Office of Administrative
Hearings has 180 days to hear the case.

Institute spokesman Lawrence Ford said the voluminous appeal ? it is
755 pages long, including supporting documents ? is based upon a claim
of "viewpoint discrimination."

The appeal described the board's decision as "academic (and religious)
bigotry masquerading as Texas Education Code 'enforcement.' "

Board members and staff are accused of denying the request in April
because the institute and its leaders believe the biblical version of
the Earth's creation is literally true.

Institute CEO Henry Morris III said last spring his school's program
includes information about evolution, although he and others
affiliated with the school don't accept the proof of evolution offered
by mainstream scientists.

Board members and Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes said
they were concerned the degree would not equip graduates to teach
science in Texas' public schools.

The real issue, Stafford said Monday, is whether the institute's
course work ? offered online and still available, although not
accredited ? fits the label of the proposed degree.

The disputed degree is a Master of Science in science education.
"Either the curriculum or the label has to change," Stafford said.

"That label has a particular meaning of preparing somebody as a
science teacher."

Paredes reiterated that in a May 21 letter to Morris. "It was
determined that the designation of the degree and the content of the
degree were not adequately aligned," he wrote. "Approval would require
either a change in the designation of the degree or a change in the
content covered."

The institute is not inclined to do either, Ford said.

Both the institute and the coordinating board have posted on their Web
sites (www.icr.org and www.thecb.state.tx.us) a 371-page document
prepared by the institute last spring to describe its program.

The coordinating board has also posted the institute's appeal
documents.

--
Bob.

.

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