An email to an appointee, actually: Dr. Steven Paredes, Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The particulars of the issue are in the report mentioned in the letter (I'll hot-link it, and the article mentioned later). In essence, a creation 'science' institute moved here from California for the political climate -- "Austin, we have a problem..." -- and is now trying to get their alleged Master in Science Ed. program certified by the state.

This comes immediately upon the heels of a 'wedge issue'-style forced resignation of the science curriculum director of the Texas Education Agency (the body which sets public school curricula), basically for being vocally pro-science. I am Flamin' mad, which is why I posted it here.

*ahem*

Dear Dr. Paredes,

As a Texan concerned for the quality and accuracy of science education in our state and elsewhere, I am writing to add my voice in opposition to THECB granting certification to the ICR for the awarding of Masters in Science Education degrees.

I urge you to lead Texas away from ridicule in the state and national press -- such as it has recently received in light of the Chris Comer incident -- and to show our critics that Texans know the difference between religious faith and scientific inquiry, and which should be taught in which setting. I cannot imagine it possible that Texas desires to be listed with Arkansas, Louisiana, the Pennsylvania town of Dover, and (until recently) Kansas among places still mired in the19th Century while genuine 21st Century scientific progress passes us by... or to where degrees in science education from any of our universities become sullied by association with such 'institutions' as ICR.

My concern is bolstered on ethical grounds by the probability that fraud will be perpetrated by ICR on unsuspecting 'distance students' from other countries (for whom English is most likely their second language), led to believe that they will receive a Texas-certified MS in genuine science education, when in fact their curriculum will consist of denial of the very science they seek to learn to teach.

As reference, I provide below a link to a report prepared by the Texas Citizens for Science on the matter at hand:

TCS Report

I ask you and the other members of THECB to read it carefully.

Permit me to quote your own words back to you (from the end of the above report; original source: San Antonio Express-News, 12/19/07, online version here.

"Maybe the real issue here is to put this proposal in the right category. Maybe it's not a program in science education. Maybe it's a program in creation studies. Then we have to decide whether that is a legitimate field or not."

You and the THECB may well decide that 'creation studies' is a legitimate field worthy of a Master in Religious Education. I implore you, however, not to consider for even a moment that creationism has any standing in the pedagogy of science. If you take a stand now against what Judge Jones rightfully called "breathtaking inanity" (Kitzmiller v. Dover ASD, q.v.), you will have made a significant step in ensuring Texas' proper place in education.

With hope that the correct decision is made,

Lalo Fox
Bedford, TX

I owe it to years of practice here -- and email is ever so much more convenient, 'cause you can link references directly, just as we've all learned to do with (to?) each other.