PRESS RELEASE 8/19/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact -- Ide Trotter
Texans for Better Science Education
(972) 296-7167
info@strengthsandweaknesses.org
http://www.strengthsandweaknesses.org  

Texas Freedom Network Misrepresents Opponents and Favors Censorship, Says Science Education Group 

The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) and allied groups are misrepresenting their opponents and trying to censor the teaching of evolution, according to comments released Tuesday by Texans for Better Science Education (TBSE). TBSE was responding to a press conference called by TFN for Wednesday, August 20 to counter what TFN alleges is "an organized effort to weaken science by inserting creationism" into biology textbooks. 

TBSE spokesman Dr. Ide Trotter criticized TFN for caricaturing its opponents as religious zealots who want to introduce creationism or intelligent design into textbooks. "TFN keeps talking about people trying to get creationism or intelligent design into textbooks, but at July's textbook hearing of the State Board of Education, not one person advocated this. However, three witnesses did ask for factual errors to be corrected and for textbooks to cover both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of Darwinism, as required by state law. Ironically, TFN is advocating that high school texts retain factual errors which even leading evolutionary scientists no longer defend." 

Trotter added that TFN is the real censor. "TFN claims to be against censorship, but its leaders want to censor the teaching of evolution by preventing students from learning about scientific problems of the theory. TFN would shortchange Texas students from learning all they should about evolution. We believe mainstream Texans want these matters to be settled on the basis of up-to-date science, not by the strong-arm tactics of Darwinist pressure groups." 

"TFN should stop engaging in character assassination, and start debating the real issue, which is whether our students should learn accurate science."

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Texans for Better Science Education is a group of concerned Texas citizens who support the right of all students to learn about both the strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theory in conformance with Texas law as well as the right of all teachers to the academic freedom to teach without censorship and intimidation from any pressure groups.

TBSE has a website at www.strengthsandweaknesses.org .