Education Expert Laura Ewing Testifies about Science in Schools

MOMocrats are happy to welcome guest poster Laura Ewing. Ewing is a retired educator and current educational advocate in Texas. When the State Board of Education was conducting hearings recently about rephrasing standards in science curriculum, Ewing testified in favor of educationally---rather than political or religious---based science curriculum. She eloquently explained why scientific education is so crucial to students, especially for future progress. Following is her testimony:

Testimony by Laura Ewing, Friendswood, TX 

Dear Members of the SBOE:

      I am here today as a retired public school educator and as a person who cares so much about decisions impacting TEKS, testing and textbooks that I ran for the SBOE in 2008.  Most importantly, I am a parent of a son who has attended public schools in Fort Bend as a kindergartner and Friendswood from 1^st through 12^th grade.  He is now a college student at UTSA.

      I ask that you vote FOR the current language of the Science TEKS.  Our students must be educated with the ability to succeed in the 21^st century, and that means teaching them with scientific theories which have been corroborated through research and testing. 

      In December my family spent almost two weeks hiking in the Davis Mountains and Big Bend.  As I viewed the majesty of the mountains and terrain formed by volcanic action and oceanic movement, I marveled at God’s beautiful creations. And, I also realized that solid scientific study has determined that these structures are billions and millions of years old.  We visited with a paleontologist/archeologist who has discovered on his property the fossilized remains of a 75 million year old turtle, first of its genus and species.  It was important for my son to hear about the methods used in scientific research of these lands and this particular discovery.  Our trip allowed him to use his 21^st century scientific learning, which includes his critical thinking skills, to analyze the world around him.   There was no need to discuss whether or not the turtle has evolved.  Critical thinking skills were utilized in determining HOW the species has evolved.   I want for all of our 4.5 million public school children to continue to learn scientific methods that will allow them to be successful in their future endeavors and competitive in the 21^st century global economy.

      I have taught Sunday school at my local Methodist church for over a decade, and as our junior high students discussed the story of Adam and Eve this last Sunday, I realized again why I don’t want politicians politicizing what and how issues of faith will be taught in public schools.  The lesson reinforced the role that houses of worship need to play in educating our children in faith-based issues.  Our students need to be guided to their religious beliefs by their families so that they truly have freedom of religion.  Let’s support the role of public school education in teaching science and truly prepare our students for the 21^st century. I know that down the street there is at least one bill introduced to strip this body of much of its oversight powers because the majority vote decisions have not been following process and have politicized and jeopardized the education of our children.  You have the opportunity to show students, parents and the legislature that you can make educationally sound decisions and not ones that promote personal political agendas. Please open the door for our students to learn and be successful in today’s world. 

Thank you,

Laura Ewing

Comments

[Laura Ewing]

Thank you for reprinting the testimony that I presented last week. The second and final reading/vote will be March 27th. Please send letters to the State Board of Education, via the Texas Education Agency. Their address is
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas, 78701

While the study of strengths and weaknesses of theories was removed, an amendment was passed to include the wording that sufficiencies and insufficiencies of evolution. This will be the standard if passed in March, and will be included in the textbooks, which we will have for about 8 years. This means that we are going to follow these standards for the next decade. What is included in our textbooks will be included in the textbooks for at least half of the states.

Thank you,
Laura Ewing

[Daisy]

Well said!

-4th grade teacher, Wisconsin, who loves teaching science

[cynematic]

Kids need to be prepared to live in what will be an even more technologically-assisted future world, one where science, math, and analytical skills will determine who defines progress and who falls behind.