Subject: [AthofSV] Alert: Xtian Right Wing Attack on K-8 Grades Science Books in CA

From: "Jim Bill" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 09:47:29 -1000

I got this message from Rev. Jerry Sloan of Project Tocsin and the Sacramento Freethought Society.  Please forward this message to atheists and other freethinkers in the Sacramento area or elsewhere who might be interested in this meeting or in attending this meeting.

Larry Caldwell didn't do enough damage up in Roseville now he wants to bring Creationism/Intelligent Design to the entire state! If you have the inclination and time to see the Radical Religious Right in action attend this meeting. The Capital Resource Institute is urging Xians to attend and show support for Caldwell.

Time and place are at the end of the article . .Jerry

            Action Needed!   March 4, 2005  

            Teaching Truth in Science - You Can Make a Difference This Wednesday! 
            Are you troubled by schools indoctrinating pupils with the evolution theory of biology while failing to teach the kids the whole truth and give them a balanced perspective in science? If so, then there's a perfect opportunity for you to do something about it in the next week! 

            The California State Board of Education (BOE) is currently in the initial stages of soliciting, evaluating and adopting the science textbooks that will be used in all public K-8 classrooms for the next six years. A friend of CRI, Larry Caldwell, is spearheading efforts to influence the BOE to adopt science textbooks that include a variety of scientific viewpoints on biological evolution. Essentially, Mr. Caldwell is asking the BOE to require school districts, when they broach the subject of evolution, to teach both the strengths and weaknesses of the evolutionary theory. Currently, some school districts teach evolution as substantiated science while failing to teach kids that there are many, many flaws to the evolutionary theory as well. This is a disservice to our school children and our entire educational system. 

            Please note: Mr. Caldwell is not even suggesting that school districts teach Creationism. He is simply asking that, if they are to teach evolution, they let kids know that there are many flaws to evolution and that it shouldn't be blindly accepted as truth. 

            Education is the pursuit of truth. If both sides of a debate are not presented to children (e.g., if the flaws in evolution are not taught to kids), then children are not being taught factual knowledge but, rather, they are being blatantly indoctrinated. 

            CRI applauds Mr. Caldwell's efforts and strongly supports them. We believe Caldwell's efforts have great potential for transforming how evolution is presented in textbooks for all California children as well as for the entire country (since California is the largest textbook market in the country)! 

            But Mr. Caldwell can't do it alone! He needs a strong backing from ordinary citizens in California (in other words, YOU!). We need you to attend the BOE meeting this next week and let your voice be heard. At a minimum, if you cannot attend the meeting, please send a letter to the California State Board of Education giving them your opinion on this issue and supporting Mr. Caldwell. 

            Here is the information on the meeting and the address of the BOE for letters: 

            When: Wednesday, March 9, 2005
            Time: 9:00 a.m.
            Place: State Board of Education
            Address: 1430 N Street, Room 1101
            Sacramento, CA 95814 

            WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!! 

Tahk'sin - A bell rung to give an alarm; the sound made by it; any alarm signal

Jerry Sloan is the co-author of Without Justice for All: A Look at the Christian Right in California and Beyond

http://www.rthoughtsrfree.org/tocsin.htm   Blog: http://projecttocsin.blogspot.com