Great citizen journalism from a freelance science writer in Texas. She advocates against questioning evolution theory in science textbooks, on the grounds that "it's really hard to come up with scientifically based weaknesses to evolution." The story is largely about her experience testifying before the Texas State Board of Education at a hearing pitting scientists against religious creationists. An insightful and informative article about an important topic.

Author Juli Berwald's obvious bias blinds her to the fact that most people who are open to new avenues of scientific inquiry supportive of a hypothesis of intelligent design are scientific folk (many eminent in their fields) who also embrace the established theory of evolution. What they favor is school policy that allows for scientific questioning of the exclusivity of traditional Darwinian evolution (random mutation combined with natural selection) as an explanation for the life forms we observe on our planet. The author crudely equates intelligent design with creationism; actually the two are quite different. Both traditional Darwinian evolutionists and intelligent design folk are focused on the "How?" question. Only ... More »

A fascinating first person account of a school evolution debate. The author is unabashed in her views, but is forthright in presenting her perspective unhindered.

An insightful take by a scientist/science writer who gave testimony in front of the Texas State Board of Education regarding its evolution debate. She makes some interesting distinctions about the debate, and about the separation of church of state in public education.

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This is an exceptionally readable perspective from a science textbook writer testifying in the Texas School Board evolution debate. The author gives some calm, intelligent insights into why creationists have failed to reconcile their views with scientific inquiry -- they don't understand the terms of the debate.