A note from Steve Levine,President of the Houston Geological Society
8 July, 2004
Attention HGS Members and Friends in Texas:
This is a note I just received from Sharon Mosher, professor of geology at the University of Texas and past president of the Geological Society of America (GSA). It is an appeal for our membership to write our local representatives and the Chair of the Texas Board of Education. The Texas State Board of Education will vote July 15-16, 2004 on a rule that will require all Texas public school children to take four years of science credit in high school . This new rule will make it possible for Texas students to receive high school graduation science credit for Earth Science courses, something that is not currently allowed. Thank you for reviewing this letter below and consider sending a note to the appropriate representative listed at the conclusion of the letter.
Steve Levine
President Houston Geological Society
LETTERS NEEDED BEFORE JULY 15th:
EARTH SCIENCE IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
Dear Colleague:
Texas has an immediate opportunity to be a leader in the push for greater science literacy in the U.S. and to address concerns over the loss of U.S. dominance in sciences. At the same time, it will significantly increase the exposure of Texas public school students to the Earth Sciences. I am writing to you as a past president of GSA to ask your help on this important issue.
On July 15-16, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) will vote on a rule that will require all Texas public school children to take 4 years of science credit in high school for the Recommended or Distinguished Plan. Note: this really means ALL children because the Minimum plan is being phased out. What this new rule does is make it possible for Texas students to receive high school graduation science credit for Earth Science courses, something that is not currently allowed. This is the second and final reading of this rule, so if it passes it will go into effect.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CHAIR OF THE SBOE, GERALDINE MILLER, BEFORE JULY 15TH (email addresses and FAX # given below).
The science community needs to be heard on this important issue; much opposition to this rule passing is expected. This vote comes as a direct response to the Earth Science community's efforts to reinstate Earth Science as a core science credit for high school graduation.
Below I give some history behind this surprising action by the SBOE in May, the excerpt from the official SBOE actions, and contact information for the SBOE. An article from NSTA Express that provides some relevant information can be found at http://science.nsta.org/nstaexpress/nstaexpress_2004_05_10.htm
Please contact your representative and the chair of the SBOE and pass this email onto whomever is appropriate. We want to encourage as many scientists as possible to correspond with their representative on this issue.
Thank you,
Sharon Mosher
Past President, Geological Society of America
HISTORY: A ROUNDABOUT PATH TO INCREASING SCIENCE & EARTH SCIENCE IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Several years ago Earth Science was virtually removed from Texas middle and high schools. In response to the overwhelming insistence by the earth science community, the Texas Board of Education set up a Task Force for Earth Science (ESTF) composed of university professors, practicing geologists, and public school administrators, to evaluate the current curriculum and requirements. After a year of public meetings, the ESTF submitted a final report on 9/03 with a series of recommendations that if enacted would gradually increase the exposure of Texas public school children to earth science and eventually result in 4 years of science being required. The middle school recommendations are being implemented, but the ones for high school are in jeopardy. The first recommendation, that earth science be allowed to count as a science credit for high school graduation, was approved on its first reading in 2/04 by a narrow margin, but in May, the school board substituted the motion listed below, that all children be required to take 4 years of science and earth science could be one of them. One of the impetuses for this surprising vote was a then recent article in the New York Times about the loss of U.S. dominance in the sciences (see NSTA Express article link for an except). Also, this change would effectively implement most of the ESTF's recommendations in one step instead of gradually over a several year period. Because this was a substitute motion, it has to be voted on for a final time in July. Although the Board voted in favor 14 to 1, they have had time to consider how much it will cost and for the opposition to become active. What opposition? Any increase in a requirement cuts into some other areas - band, fine arts, sports and so on, science is too hard, it costs to much, etc. We don't know what the opposition will be or say since this will be the first time they have had an opportunity to speak. But unfortunately it is our last chance to be heard on this issue.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EARTH SCIENCE?
If this motion passes, a vast majority of the students will take an earth science course of some type. If it fails, the recommendations of the Earth Science Task Force for high school are no longer on the table, and we have to go back to the drawing board. The only maneuver that would work would be if a substitute motion was made for this one and it passed. Given the past history of the SBOE votes on this issue, passing such a substitute motion is highly questionable. In writing my letters, I am strongly supporting this motion, but at the same time stressing that one of the important outcomes is exposing more Texas public school children to Earth Science.