Texas' Director of Science Curriculum fired for criticizing Intelligent Design

[Blodrast]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us...rssnyt&emc=rss

AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 29 (AP) — The state’s director of science curriculum said she resigned this month under pressure from officials who said she had given the appearance of criticizing the teaching of intelligent design.

The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days’ paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer called a forced resignation.

The move came shortly after she forwarded an e-mail message announcing a presentation by Barbara Forrest, an author of “Creationism’s Trojan Horse.” The book argues that creationist politics are behind the movement to get intelligent design theory taught in public schools. Ms. Comer sent the message to several people and a few online communities.

Ms. Comer, who held her position for nine years, said she believed evolution politics were behind her ousting. “None of the other reasons they gave are, in and of themselves, firing offenses,” she said.

Education agency officials declined to comment Wednesday on the matter. But they explained their recommendation to fire Ms. Comer in documents obtained by The Austin American-Statesman through the Texas Public Information Act.

“Ms. Comer’s e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that T.E.A. endorses the speaker’s position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral,” the officials said.

The agency documents say that officials recommended firing Ms. Comer for repeated acts of misconduct and insubordination.

The officials said forwarding the e-mail message conflicted with her job responsibilities and violated a directive that she not communicate with anyone outside the agency regarding a pending science curriculum review.

The documents criticize Ms. Comer for giving a presentation and attending an off-site meeting without approval. It also said she had complained that “there was no real leadership at the agency.”

God bless y'all.

[Boyar Son]

Now why would she want to go and insult God like that? not like she had to...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Call me skeptical, especially since this is the NYT, and they're just mouthing the complaints of someone who just resigned, and so would have a real good reason to say she got forced to resign for politics.

CR

[Blodrast]

Call me skeptical, especially since this is the NYT, and they're just mouthing the complaints of someone who just resigned, and so would have a real good reason to say she got forced to resign for politics.

CR

“Ms. Comer’s e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that T.E.A. endorses the speaker’s position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral,” the officials said.

(emphasis mine)

Wait, so you're seriously saying that NY Times isn't a worthy source of news ?
I think that's the first time I've heard/read that in the backroom...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Yay, I'm saying that. And why not? They are biased, and likely to slant something like this to make it seem like she was fired for criticizing intelligent design.

CR

[Blodrast]

Yay, I'm saying that. And why not? They are biased, and likely to slant something like this to make it seem like she was fired for criticizing intelligent design.

CR

Oh, no, you're perfectly entitled to say that, but I thought that after Lemur's circles of hell for media thread a while ago, we had all kinda agreed that NYT is one of the better ones out there... 'cause otherwise, I'm not sure if there's _anything_ left that you would accept as non-biased...

And if you re-read my quote, you'll see that the officials said that that's exactly why they fired her: because she's supposed to be impartial to ID vs evolution.

[Ice]

Yay, I'm saying that. And why not? They are biased, and likely to slant something like this to make it seem like she was fired for criticizing intelligent design.

CR

Hehe. If I remember correctly CR, you use sources like "guncite.com"

A little ironic here, yes?

[Xiahou]

Wait, so you're seriously saying that NY Times isn't a worthy source of news ?
I think that's the first time I've heard/read that in the backroom...

For one thing, they seem to be juggling "resigned" and "fired" interchangeably. Sure, one can be more or less forced to resign, but some things in the story just don't click in my mind....

The Texas Education Agency put the director, Chris Comer, on 30 days’ paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what Ms. Comer called a forced resignation.

Ms. Comer, who held her position for nine years, said she believed evolution politics were behind her ousting. “None of the other reasons they gave are, in and of themselves, firing offenses,” she said.

Well, they didn't fire her. They put her on paid leave. She may be right that it wasn't a firing offense- since she wasn't fired.

[PanzerJaeger]

(emphasis mine)

Wait, so you're seriously saying that NY Times isn't a worthy source of news ?
I think that's the first time I've heard/read that in the backroom...

Umm, how long have you been visiting the backroom?





It seems this has much more to do with the fact that this woman was not good at her job and did not play well with others than anything to do with "evolution politics". Makes for a good story for the left-leaning blogosphere though... she'll surely have a new job to suck at soon enough in a blue state!

[Slyspy]

Umm, how long have you been visiting the backroom?





It seems this has much more to do with the fact that this woman was not good at her job and did not play well with others than anything to do with "evolution politics". Makes for a good story for the left-leaning blogosphere though... she'll surely have a new job to suck at soon enough in a blue state!

She has been in the job for over nine years. Not bad for an incompetent, usually only politicians get that kind of privilege.

[Vladimir]

Even if arrested, teachers keep their job:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=692024

James Buss was arrested Thursday by West Bend police, and the 46-year-old Cudahy man could face criminal charges. He has been suspended from his job as a teacher at Oak Creek High School.

[HoreTore]

Why do you think people become teachers in the first place?

"Hmmm... Looks like you'll get an F, Cindy... That won't look good for your future...I wonder what you could do to change that....hmmm...I wonder..."



Oh, and yes, I'm thinking of studying to become a teacher

Btw Vladimir, an arrest doesn't equate a conviction... Presumed innocent until proven guilty, remember? He hasn't been found guilty yet, and as such he is completely innocent, and therefore shouldn't be fired