Success! Creationist Textbook Writers Back Out of Texas

Last month, we wrote that anti-evolution publisher Foundation for Thought and Ethics (FTE) was trying to slip creationist rhetoric into Texas school text books, pushing forward "intelligent design" as a scientific theory.

But thanks to activism by the Texas Freedom Network, FTE has announced it's pulling back from efforts to get its creationist text books into the hands of Texas school children. By sending e-mails to the state's school board, Change.org members joined the TFN in demanding quality science education materials for Texas schoolchildren.

In 2005, a federal judge ruled that FTE's "intelligent design" science textbook Of Pandas And People could not be taught in public schools because it violated the Constitution. But in 2009, the Texas state school board put forward creationist-friendly science standards, giving FTE another chance to put forth their religious educational materials. Texas Freedom Network says FTE's decision to withdraw their curriculum materials "is very good news for supporters of sound science education and students in Texas public schools," and "a huge disappointment for evolution deniers."

But the fight for accurate scientific information in Texas classrooms isn't over. TFN says anti-evolution groups and board members will continue to pressure other publishers to water down any mention of evolution in their text books. Activists at TFN say they'll continue their fight to ensure that educational materials in their state  "actually teach the well-established facts about evolution, not anti-science propaganda."

Photo credit: Eirik Newth