this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2023
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How science textbooks in Texas address climate change is at the center of a key vote expected Friday after some Republican education officials criticized books for being too negative toward fossil fuels in America’s biggest oil and gas state.

The issue of which textbooks to approve has led to new divisions on the Texas State Board of Education, which over the years has faced other heated curriculum battles surrounding how evolution and U.S. history is taught to the more than 5 million students.

Science standards adopted by the board’s conservative majority in 2021 do not mention creationism as an alternative to evolution. Those standards also describe human factors as contributors to climate change.

But some Republicans on the 15-member board this week waved off current textbook options as too negative toward fossil fuels and for failing to include alternatives to evolution. One of Texas’ regulators of the oil and gas industry, Republican Wayne Christian, has urged the board to “choose books that promote the importance of fossil fuels for energy promotion.”

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[–] [email protected] 54 points 11 months ago (3 children)

too negative toward fossil fuels and for failing to include alternatives to evolution.

I was trying to think of a metaphor to really drive home how stupid this is, but the GOP has made argument ad absurdum curl up into a ball and beg for mercy.

Just legendary idiocy from people who decide what our kids learn.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'll do my best for you, did they also fail to mention the competition to the theory of gravity, that everything stays on the ground because the holy spirit holds it there? Or the the alternative to germ theory, that people get sick because God wanted to punish them? Or what about the alternative to the theory of thermodynamics, that things get warm because an angel holds it real tight?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

People think you are kidding, but I was raised in the southern baptist church. This is damn near exactly what they brain-washed into us.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

Oh totally. Pastors saying illness is God's punishment for whatever group they hate makes the news all the time. Or that hurricanes happen cause gays or something. God apparently doesn't mind a lot of collateral damage. Looking at the old testament though.... Yeah that checks out.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've driven through parts of north western Texas and the oil rigs everywhere really seem to enforce how much oil brings employment to the areas much like parts of Alberta. It's barren, dry and hard worked over land that I'm not sure what else they would do with. Outside of the odd places with water holes like Balmorhea it's just harsh.

Now I do get a serious evil vibe by this push to keep the public confused and focused on these issues versus what's going on environmentally. If everyone is fighting over this crap that was already decided on sometime back, they can do whatever they want in these other areas.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It's sad. There are a lot of capable people in Texas who would be smarter if they had better education.

The education system in Texas was a real wake up call for me after spending most of my time on the East Coast. It's a world of difference.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

and for failing to include alternatives to evolution.

For fuck's sake, we already had argument 98 FUCKING YEARS AGO! The South won't rise again either you chumps.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The controversy is going to end decisively when Texas becomes uninhabitable.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

But I will be blamed on wind and solar killing whales, unfortunately by half the state.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

And Jewish space lazers

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Probably. Reality will roll over them anyway.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

You see kids, destroying the world for future generations was very profitable, and a good thing that God approved of

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Oh remember Texas, where the Whites fought against the Dirty Mexican Slavers to enshrine Freedom For All, where the Christians fought against the dinosaurs to make the earth safe, where the big Oil Companies fought against the dirty clean energy companies to make the air breathable again, and reverse global warming.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Fucking Republicans