This is an OK story, and I agree with the Times, but it would be more interesting to see how the news is being received in Texas by Texans.

Disturbing news from the Lonestar State.

altho this is an incomplete story as it doesn't include a larger context for the state and its educational policies and other personnel in addition to those mentioned, the events themselves demonstrate that more reports, interviews, etc. regarding scientific facts and processes need to be out there in the media to inform the public

This is important journalism. We need to keep the spotlight on the biases against science in this country....to avoid a takeover by "pseudo-science" forces willing to bend facts to fit a particular point of view. We will be taking a giant step backwards as a culture if we continue to allow science to be used as a tool to satisfy people who want to close their minds and those of our children to information that disrupts their desire to maintain a particular world view - against all evidence.

It's an op ed piece, but it does point out something that's a real problem with education - surrendering to extremely partisan and opinionated forces. and resultant 'dumbing down'. And Texas, if I remember correctly, is one of the states that places orders in quantities that make textbook publishers sit up and take notice. The question should be: did any papers other than the Times cover the story, and if so how? And if not, why not?

This is a poorly prepared editorial piece. First, the authors talk about "teaching of evolution", when they should have said "teaching of evolutionary theory". There is a huge difference, and any science writer could have told them that. The argument is about the latter, not about the former. Second, Barbara Forrest is a philosopher who promotes her philosophical viewpoint and is not a biologist who knows the science of evolutionary theory. Ms Forrest in fact is on the "religion" side of the debate over evolutionary theory, not the "science" side. Poor journalism.