Texas' Director of Science Curriculum fired for criticizing Intelligent Design

[Crazed Rabbit]

That doesn't sound like strictly speaking at all, it sounds like loosely speaking with a tenuous grasp of the English language.

What kind of science do you have when there are "no facts to support"? How is that different from magic, witchcraft, astrology, Dianetics or spontaneous human combustion? (No, wait, strike that last one. At least there's some evidence for SHC, whereas there is none for ID.)

Good grief, it was just a figure of speech to get in a joke about ID.
(Also, a lie is something you know is false, whilst ID'ers believe in ID)

I didn't think it was politics, but that it was very much related to science, and to her occupation. It was a talk given by a _scientist_, regarding Intelligent Design, which is part of the curriculum. How is it NOT related to her job description to announce such events ?

I think she doesn't have the power to announce such events solely by herself, which is the issue on that point.

CR

[Lord Winter]

Then for that matter CR, is it wrong for a teacher to offer etra credit for students to go to a well qualified speaker on say the effects of fertillizer on frog population. Something which also has a certain degree of "conterversy" mainly coming from fertillizer companys?

[Papewaio]

I think she doesn't have the power to announce such events solely by herself, which is the issue on that point.

Most job descriptions of any caliber I read have 'initiative, works well without close supervision, independent thinker, can think outside the box' kind of statements.

What is the point of hiring for a senior position then having to vet every email by committee?

[Cheetah]

Also, seems to be overlooked that the person whos lecture she advertised through e-mail "is also a member of NCSE's board of directors".

So the director of NCSE cannot advertise a lecture by an other member of the board?

[Xiahou]

Also, seems to be overlooked that the person whos lecture she advertised through e-mail "is also a member of NCSE's board of directors".

So the director of NCSE cannot advertise a lecture by an other member of the board?

She's not the director of the NCSE. Where did you get that idea?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Most job descriptions of any caliber I read have 'initiative, works well without close supervision, independent thinker, can think outside the box' kind of statements.

What is the point of hiring for a senior position then having to vet every email by committee?

Really - do they have "exceeds authority in a way that comprises her agency's reputation" along with all the other complaints about her in the article as desired qualities in employees?

CR

[Papewaio]

If TEA is firing a science director for emailing an FYI about a lecture that is relevent to science and education, I think that TEA has show it is quite capable of compromising its own authourity without help.