How science textbooks in Texas address climate change is at the center of a key vote. Some Republicans on the Texas State Board of Education have criticized them for being too negative toward fossil fuels in America’s biggest oil and gas state.

How science textbooks in Texas address climate change is at the center of a key vote expected Friday after some Republican education officials criticized books for being too negative toward fossil fuels in America’s biggest oil and gas state.

The issue of which textbooks to approve has led to new divisions on the Texas State Board of Education, which over the years has faced other heated curriculum battles surrounding how evolution and U.S. history is taught to the more than 5 million students.

Science standards adopted by the board’s conservative majority in 2021 do not mention creationism as an alternative to evolution. Those standards also describe human factors as contributors to climate change.

But some Republicans on the 15-member board this week waved off current textbook options as too negative toward fossil fuels and for failing to include alternatives to evolution. One of Texas’ regulators of the oil and gas industry, Republican Wayne Christian, has urged the board to “choose books that promote the importance of fossil fuels for energy promotion.”

  • girlfreddy
    3•1 year ago

    Here’s a map of America that shows how many contaminants are in the water and the percentage they are over EPA minimum reporting standards.

    It’s not good.

    edit – and if you want to see what might be a reason behind some southern states’ issues, check out Gadsden, AL with 7 pollutants at 4320% over limits; Bremen, GA with 3 pollutants at 3266% over limits; or Pensacola, FL with 12 pollutants at 4350% over limits.