"In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools. Because I figure you’re smart enough to figure out which one is right.”
-- Gov. Rick Perry
For background, read Texas Evolution Textbook Debate Continues and also read Question Evolution, Says Pres. Candidate Bachmann
-- From "Perry Claims Texas Teaches Creationism in Public Schools" by Becca Aaronson, Texas Tribune 8/18/11
Rick Perry told a child questioner in New Hampshire today that Texas public schools teach creationism alongside evolution — a statement that state education experts are refuting in varying degrees.
David Bradley, a social conservative member of the State Board of Education, said . . . that in Texas nothing prevents a teacher from discussing creationism, or a student from bringing it up in the classroom. "It is not specifically in the Texas curriculum," Bradley said. But "in Texas, the students are directed to investigate and evaluate all theories."
Catherine Frazier, a spokeswoman for the governor's office, also said creationism could be discussed in the classroom as students are taught about evolution.
"It is required that students evaluate and analyze the theory of evolution, and creationism very likely comes up in that process," she said. "Teachers are also permitted to discuss it with students in that context. Schools are also allowed to teach biblical history as an elective and creationism is part of that teaching, too."
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From "NH Mother Uses Child as a Prop to Question Rick Perry on Evolution" by Michael Falcone and Arlette Saenz, ABC News 8/18/11
Among the protestors at Thursday morning's meet and greet here, a mother used her child as a prop to confront Rick Perry about his beliefs on evolution and science.
The mother pushed her son towards Perry and insisted he ask the governor about the age of the earth.
"How old do I think the earth is? You know what, I don't have any idea," Perry said. "I know it's pretty old so it goes back a long long way. I'm not sure anybody actually knows completely and absolutely how long, how old the earth is."
While Perry was answering the child's question, the mother continued to loudly whisper in the child's ear to ask him about evolution and why he doesn't believe in science.
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From "Rick Perry, evangelicals and evolution as ‘a theory’s that’s out there’" by Elizabeth Tenety, Washington Post 8/18/11
Perry has his roots in the Methodist Church but, according to reports, more frequently attends Austin’s Lake Hills Church, an evangelical church in Texas with Baptist ties.
And what does Lake Hills Church teach about evolution? In the sermon below, the church’s pastor, Mac Richard, calls those Christians who unquestioningly believe in Scripture’s literal version of creation “an absolute intellectual cop-out.” But Richard also called Darwinists like Richard Dawkins “arrogant” and called for “strict Darwinists” to instead approach the subject with “humility.”
“Could God have done creation in 24 hour periods?,” Richard asked in the sermon. “He’s God! He could have blinked universes into existence and make it look like they’ve been here for billions and billions of years. Or God could have initiated creation and used an evolutionary process that defies ever fully grasping what happened. Again, he is God. And to be able to step back and worship him as God, to be able to humble ourselves to say that we are not God is the ultimate message of biblical creationism.”
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