Two SBOE-Related Forums Coming Up

illustration by Doug Potter

Perhaps you've heard a little something about the recent anti-evolution lunacy on the State Board of Education. Or perhaps you didn't realize we even have an SBOE. Or what it does. Or that it's an elected body. Or who your representative is. Don't feel too embarrassed … you'd hardly be alone in that regard.

But you can fix that in a couple of upcoming forums, one of which is coming up tomorrow (Sunday) morning. (And hey, if you're willing to fix your ignorance and evolve, that puts you way ahead of several of the SBOE members.) Details after the jump:

Forum number one:

What: The Debate Over the Science Curriculum in Texas Public Schools

Who: Ryan Valentine, Deputy Director of the Texas Freedom Network (TFN) will cover topics that will include issues related to religious freedom and church-state separation at the Texas Legislature. Ryan will also discuss the role of the controversial Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) pertaining to the high-profile debate over the state’s science curriculum which the board will decide this spring.

When: Sun., Feb. 1, 2009, 11:30am-12:30pm

Where: First Unitarian Universalist Church campus, Public Affairs Forum of Austin, 4700 Grover Ave., (behind the School for the Blind, near 45th/Lamar)

For more information: David Kobierowski, 249-0716, [email protected]

Forum number two: Saturday, February 7, 2009

11:45am-1:15pm

Yarborough Public Library, 2200 Hancock Dr.

Focus on K-12 Science: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills(TEKS) as Determined by our elected Representatives

Guest Speaker(s) [we hope for both, one confirmed so far]:

Mrs. Cynthia Dunbar, attorney, and teacher of anatomy and physiology to high school age students, elected member of the State Board of Education from SBOE District 10, including all of Travis county north of the Colorado River, plus Bastrop, Williamson, and other counties [not yet confirmed].

Dr. Lorenzo Sadun, PhD (University of California at Berkeley), professor of mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin, and parent of children currently in the public schools, who has testified before the State Board of Education on the science standards for K-12 [confirmed].

This forum, like everything at the Austin Public Libraries, is open to all without charge

For more information: John Keohane, 371-3853, [email protected]