Nov. 13th, 2007:  RRPS Reconsiders Science Policy

Elaine D. Briseño of the Albuquerque Journal reports that " The Rio Rancho school board is considering rescinding a science policy that created controversy when it was adopted in 2005 because opponents claimed it was a clever way to slip religion into biology class. Three of the board's five members, Divyesh Patel, Margaret Terry and president Lisa Cour, indicated Monday at a Rio Rancho Public Schools board meeting they would like to see the policy removed from the books. The policy was placed on the agenda by Patel and Terry. Monday was the first reading, so no action could be taken. The board could take action during the second reading, scheduled for Dec. 3. ... Cour said she opposes the policy now as much as she did when it was first brought before the board. She said it repeats verbatim what is already required in the state standards and that it treats the district's science teachers unfairly . 'My concern is that this policy puts our science teachers under the microscope,' she said. 'We trust teachers in other departments to teach to the curriculum. Why don't we trust the science teachers?' ..."

July 26th, 2007: The Albuquerque Tribune, "Commentary: Rio Rancho school policies influenced by ex-mayor need to be rethought" by Dave Thomas

Now that he has resigned, it's a good time to ponder the legacy of Rio Rancho's ex-mayor, Kevin Jackson, whose brief tenure has been disgraceful. I don't pretend to be able to explain the mechanics of his mind-numbing meltdown, complete with accusations of misuse of public funds and his unwillingness to begin coming clean about his use of public money. In light of recent events, I would like to encourage a re-examination of two of the man's prized issues: creationism and abstinence-only education.

...

Before his election as mayor, Jackson's wife, Kathy, served on the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education. There, she joined with two other board members, who just happened to be pastors at Rio West Community Church, and passed Science Policy 401 in 2005. This policy essentially paved the way for creationism by redefining science from something that must continually be tested rigorously to a mere collection of supposedly equally valid "interpretations" of the available data. Real science, of course, has a history littered with the corpses of thousands of discarded "interpretations."

...

Jackson and his wife formed the New Mexico Family Council years ago. It has identified itself as "one of 40 Family Policy councils throughout the country which work closely with (James Dobson's) Focus on the Family." Back when Jackson ran the council, the organization's newsletter claimed responsibility for sending science teachers several dozen copies of the Intelligent Design tome "Darwin's Black Box," by Michael Behe. This was cited as a classic example of the Intelligent Design "Wedge" strategy in the book "Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design" by Barbara Forrest and Paul Gross. Forrest went on to become the key witness proving the connections of creationism to its successor, Intelligent Design, in Judge John Jones' historic 2005 decision in a Dover, Pa., federal court case.

...

The Family Council has fired Jackson and is cooperating with state investigations into financial irregularities. At the least, I hope someone is investigating how Kathy Jackson, the council's co-founder, was allowed to vote on giving her own organization contracts to teach abstinence programs in Rio Rancho schools. Even with Jackson expelled from the council, the organization is still providing abstinence education through its "Best Choice" division. It's time for a fresh look at abstinence-only policies. A recent study showed that students taught only sexual abstinence ended up with rates of unwanted pregnancies no better than those of students who received standard health education. When these abstinence-only programs mention birth control, it is in a derisive way, much as creationists like to mention fossils only as a way to disparage evolution.

...

Rio Rancho's sex-ed policies do not meet state requirements for comprehensive sex education. However, the school board has yet to reconsider its stand. Board member Don Schlichte, one of the pastors behind Science Policy 401, said in February that "I think we should let the state tell us we are wrong. We will go from there." Well, the state has since spoken. It's time for action. Science Policy 401 and abstinence-only education in Rio Rancho schools should be re-examined, not just because they were associated with the Meltdown Mayor, but because they are bad for the students of Rio Rancho.

June-July, 2007: From the Rio Rancho Observer : Toons by Dave Thomas

The Albuquerque Tribune reports on June 8th that "More than two weeks after Rio Rancho city officials revoked their mayor's city credit card, many of the charges he made are still a mystery. ... Rio Rancho officials and police, State Police and the state Auditor's Office are investigating charges made by Jackson on his city-issued card. Jackson also was fired three weeks ago as director of the New Mexico Family Council-Best Choice. The nonprofit group is being investigated amid accusations federal grant money for its programs was misspent. Jackson has been unavailable for comment. ..."

Source: http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jun/08/questions-remain-regarding-rio-rancho-mayors-spend/

In 2002, Jackson's group, NMFC, sent hundreds of copies of Michael Behe's "Intelligent Design" (ID) book "Darwin's Black Box" to science teachers in New Mexico, on UNM letterhead: http://www.nmsr.org/omdahl.htm.

And in 2005, Jackson's wife Kathy sat on the Rio Rancho School Board as it approved since-amended "Science Policy 401," widely denounced as pro-ID in its original form. http://www.nmsr.org/401.htm

Feb. 22nd, 2007: “Cheshire Cat” Creationism in New Mexico...

I reported on the Panda's Thumb on "... a new group calling itself the 'New Mexico Science Foundation.' (http://www.nmsciencefoundation.org/) The group recently sent a package of materials to science teachers in the embattled Rio Rancho School District, where the Intelligent Design/Creationist-friendly Science Policy 401 was adopted, and then amended after strong protests. You wouldn’t know who is behind this mailing from the group’s website, which has quotes from Einstein, captions like 'Dedicated to the pursuit of the scientific method,' and links to bonafide science organizations, like the National Science Foundation, the National Science Teachers Association, the Institute for Systems Biology, and more. ... Some colleagues and I thought it might be a new cover organization for the New Mexico branch of the Intelligent Design Network, or perhaps something done under the auspices of the Discovery Institute. We were wrong. The New Mexico Science Foundation website is the work of Bible-believing young-earth creationists (YECs), but you wouldn’t know it just by looking at it. All that’s left of its original YEC incarnation is a toothy grin. ..."

Jan. 30th, 2007: Albuquerque Journal on "'Creationism' Measure Tabled"

Intelligent design was on the legislative agenda Monday, but it might not be there long. The House Judiciary Committee voted 7-4 along party lines to table a resolution saying public school teachers would have "the right and freedom to objectively inform students of any scientific information that is relevant to both strengths and weaknesses" of the evolutionary theory. ... Monday's discussion occurred during a simmering national debate on which theories about the development of life belong in science classrooms. A federal judge in late 2005 barred a Pennsylvania public school district from teaching "intelligent design" in biology class. Locally, the Rio Rancho school board revised its science policy last year after opponents said it was a clever scheme to insert religion into the science classroom. ...

Dec. 27th, 2006: Rio Rancho Observer on "A look back: 2006, the year in review"

April: Although there was celebration over Wal-Mart and Rio Rancho Printing, there was debate at the school board meetings. The controversial Science Policy 401 came before the board for reconsideration. Critics said the policy opened the door for intelligent design. The original language called for discussion of discrepancies between science and religion, but the amended policy required only that students understand some people may disagree. Students can still discuss matters of religion in class.

God Unleashes Hell on Rio Rancho? Posted Aug. 25th, 2006

Not long after Rio Rancho amended its back-door Intelligent Design Policy, summer monsoons began to clobber that city week after week, destroying roads and isolating neighborhoods. Coincidence?  Not according to "Unconfirmed Sources," who report "God Unleashes Hell on Rio Rancho - Experts Say It’s Payback for No Intelligent Design Being Taught As Science in Public Schools." You will want to see what they found!

June 30, 2006: National Center for Science Education, "Rio Rancho School Board Amends Science Policy"

On April 10, 2006 the school board in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, voted 4-1 to amend their Science Policy 401. According to an article in the April 11 issue of the Albuquerque Journal the policy, adopted in August, 2005 by a 3-2 vote, had been strongly opposed by district science teachers and others because of wording which seemed to promote teaching intelligent design. A board member who has opposed the policy told the Journal that it was "... a backdoor policy for intelligent design... a backdoor for religion." The article also observes that "Opponents of the policy, many of them teachers at the high school, have claimed the policy is a guise to force instructors to teach intelligent design. "

April 27th, 2006: Albuq. Trib, "Behold, science: Why realm of facts, not faith, belongs in the public classroom"

Larry Spohn of the Albuquerque Tribune editorialized on April 27th that " The science teachers said, "Let there be light," and finally the Rio Rancho Board of Education agreed. Hallelujah! Under pressure from the teachers (and undoubtedly the community), the board voted earlier this month to eliminate its creationist-friendly policy in favor of the state standard. It simply acknowledges that "students shall understand" that people might disagree when it comes to science and religion. That's better but still not quite right, as courageous board member Margaret Terry, a Catholic, pointed out, as the sole vote against any reference to religion in the science standard. Praise Terry! ..."

April 23rd, 2006: Rio Rancho Observer : Cartoon by Dave Thomas

April 13th, 2006: School board alters science policy

Gary Herron of the Rio Rancho Observer reports on April 13th that " The way Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education president Lisa Cour figured it, there were three ways the school board could handle Science Policy 401 at its Monday evening meeting. She overlooked a fourth possibility, which was the action the board took: altering the controversial policy, after hearing 80 minutes' worth of public discussion. The boardroom was packed Monday with spectators, who overflowed from the 63-person limit into adjacent hallways. The school board voted 4-1 to change the final sentence of the policy (see new policy, page A-7). ... Don Schlichte seconded Scharfglass's motion. Both board members apologized to district science teachers, several of whom were in the audience, for writing the policy and passing it last August without consulting them. The motion then passed, 4-1, with Margaret Terry the lone dissenter. Saying she is Catholic, Terry denounced the policy as 'a back-door policy for Intelligent Design' and said it felt 'creepy to me,' although she proclaimed she certainly believes in a creator and family values. ..."

April 12th, 2006: Albuq. Trib, "Editorial: Bouquets & brickbats, Bouquet: Rio Rancho"

The Albuquerque Tribune editorialized on April 12th that " Intelligent design might be good religion, but it's not science, and the Rio Rancho Board of Education was right to vote against its outright promulgation in science classes there. The board voted Monday to amend a new, controversial science policy that allowed and, in effect, encouraged discussions of creationism in Rio Rancho schools as a valid, scientific alternative to evolution. ... So far, so good. But reports on the decision reveal a couple of causes for continued concern. First, creationists say they're taking the new policy to mean that students still must be allowed to argue for intelligent design in classes - and they intend to enforce that right. Second, some creationists continue to insist that the intelligent design movement is not a backdoor attempt to sneak religious education into schools via the science department. As to the second point, people should call the creationists' demurral what it is - a lie, for which they sorely need to repent. ..."

From the Panda's Thumb: "Rio Rancho Policy Amended" by Dave Thomas (April. 11th, 2006)

"... While this victory is a significant battle, the war is far from over. Look for Intelligent Design pundits to continue spreading The Lie that New Mexico’s standards are 'Intelligent-design friendly.' Sadly, this misconception is furthered by Briseño's interview with board member Scharfglass: 'Scharfglass said after the meeting that although the amended policy just restates exactly what state standards say, it is necessary to make sure the standards are being enforced in class. That standard is that students be allowed to discuss alternative ideas to evolutionary theory.' I’m not sure if Scharfglass was misinformed, or if reporter Briseño just doesn’t know what’s in NM standards. Nowhere do New Mexico’s standards call for presentation of alternative ideas to evolutionary theory. ..."

Text of Amended Rio Rancho Science Education Policy 401 (April 10th, 2006)

April 11th, 2006: Rio Rancho Schools Amend Science Policy

Elaine D. Briseño of the Albuquerque Journal reported on April 11th that "The Rio Rancho school board voted Monday to amend a controversial science policy, which opponents said was a ruse to insert intelligent design into the science classroom. The board removed a sentence from the policy that deviated from state standards, and replaced it with language taken verbatim from the standards. The sentence that was removed was seen by many opponents as a way to slip religion into the classroom whenever teachers were discussing evolution. The two board members who introduced the policy, Don Schlichte and Marty Scharfglass, also apologized to the science teachers at the high school for not consulting them before proposing and then adopting the policy last summer. 'When we brought the policy forward, we should have talked to the science staff,' Scharfglass said. 'It was a mistake not to do that.' An opponent of the original policy, Rio Rancho High School SciMatics Academy head Dan Barbour, lauded the board's action after the meeting. 'It's a decision that brings the community together,' he said. 'It's a victory for both sides. It retains the emphasis on critical thinking and removes the language with religious undertones.' Scharfglass said after the meeting that although the amended policy just restates exactly what state standards say, it is necessary to make sure the standards are being enforced in class. That standard is that students be allowed to discuss alternative ideas to evolutionary theory. ... More than 100 people packed the meeting room and overflowed into the hallway to hear the board's discussion. More than 30 people spoke, with those supporting and those opposing the policy about even. The change made to the policy followed comments from Rio Rancho Superintendent Sue Cleveland. She said the most concern and controversy over the policy arose from the sentence: 'When appropriate and consistent with the New Mexico Science Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards, discussions about issues that are of interest to both science and individual religious and philosophical beliefs will acknowledge that reasonable people may disagree about the meaning and interpretation of data.' 'Most of the discussion was that this change in language from the state standards opened the door to different interpretations of the standards,' she said. A motion by Scharfglass proposed replacing that sentence with one taken verbatim from the state standards: 'Students shall understand that reasonable people may disagree about some issues that are of interest to both science and religion (e.g., the origin of life on earth, the cause of the big bang, the future of the earth).' The board approved the motion 4-1, with only Margaret Terry voting against it. Board president Lisa Cour, who opposed the policy when it was adopted in August, said she wanted it to go away, but in the spirit of compromise would support it with the amendment. Terry said even though she is a practicing Catholic, she could not support the policy, even with the amendment. 'In my gut, I feel this is a backdoor policy for intelligent design,' Terry said before the vote. 'This policy is not honest because it is a backdoor for religion. I don't want religion in public school. That belongs at home or in the church.' ..."

March 20th, 2006: School Board may Reconsider Science Policy 401

Gary Herron of the Rio Rancho Observer reports on March 20th that "Rio Rancho Public Schools' controversial Science Policy 401, which was approved by the school board in August, will come before the board again at its next meeting, slated for 6 p.m. on April 10. Superintendent Dr. Sue Cleveland said after Thursday's board meeting that the board had promised to revisit the policy, which many say pushes the teaching of Creationism or Intelligent Design, in the spring. It is possible the board will overturn the policy at that meeting. ..."

March 18th, 2006: New Rio Rancho Mayor Kevin Jackson's organization, NMFC, supports Intelligent Design

Kevin Jackson was elected mayor of Rio Rancho, NM on March 7, 2006. His wife, Kathy Jackson, was one of the Rio Rancho School Board members who supported adoption of Science Policy 401.

In 2002, colleagues of the New Mexico Family Council (NMFC), for which Kevin Jackson is Founder and Executive Director, and for which Kathy Jackson is Co-Founder and Operations Director, spent considerable funds getting copies of Michael Behe's Intelligent Design book"Darwin's Black Box" into the hands of science teachers across New Mexico.

Source: http://www.nmsr.org/omdahl.htm

SEE ALSO http://www.nmsr.org/nmfc.htm, "NM Family Council (NMFC) Email Alert 27 Mar 2002"

NMFC works with Rio Grande Enrichment Studies, L.L.C. (RGES), a pro-creationism home schooling site maintained by Mark Burton, who is also active at Creation Science Fellowship of New Mexico (CSFNM)

From the 28 Feb 2005 RGES News: "Kevin Jackson is also lobbying for pro-family issues this session. Please pray for unity among conservative Christians. ..."

Source: http://www.rges.cc/news/050228.htm

More from the 4 Jan 2006 RGES News: "* KNME scheduled to air Unlocking the Mystery of Life and later canceled it. Recognizing our Creator in science continues to be a national conflict with NM at the forefront. Our founding principles in the Declaration of Independence had no reservation about acknowledging our Creator - '... all men are created equal ... endowed by their Creator.' Other PBS stations (e.g., Portales) air this program and Privileged Planet. * Rio Rancho School Board passes measure allowing students to discuss alternatives to the theory of evolution. Federal judge bans Intelligent Design in PA public schools. ..."

Source: http://www.rges.cc/news/060104.htm

It's starting to look like a cozy club!

RECAP

NMFC = New Mexico Family Council
CSFNM = Creation Science Fellowship of New Mexico
RGES = Rio Grande Enrichment Studies LLC
IDnet-NM = Intelligent Design Network of New Mexico
AiG = Answers in Genesis ("Upholding the Authority of the Bible from the Very First Verse")
RWCC = Rio West Community Church

Linking Kevin Jackson to NMFC

Linking NMFC/Kevin Jackson/Phil Robinson to ID Book Drive

NMFC's ID Book Drive: Sending ID books out to science teachers under UNM logo/letterhead

Linking Phil Robinson, Mark Burton & Michael Behe to RGES

Linking Phil Robinson and CSFNM to RGES

Linking IDnet-NM and Phil Robinson to RGES

Linking Don Schlichte and RWCC to Answers In Genesis

Linking Mark Burton to CSFNM

Linking RGES to CSFNM

Linking RGES to NMIDnet-NM (26 hits)

Linking CSFNM to NMIDnet-NM

Linking NMFC to AiG (Answers in Genesis) (Look for Ken Ham)

Linking RGES to AiG (Answers in Genesis)

Linking CSFNM to AiG (Answers in Genesis)

March 16th, 2006: Rio Rancho Labor Relations Board: School District, Union need to Deal with Policy 401 Issues.

Elaine D. Briseño of the Albuquerque Journal reported on March 16th that "The debate over a recently adopted science policy relating to evolution in the Rio Rancho School District surfaced again Wednesday. Andrew Lotrich, lawyer for the district's school employees union, appeared before the Rio Rancho Labor Relations Board to learn the fate of a complaint he filed in August, shortly after the policy was adopted. It claimed the school board should have addressed the impact the controversial policy would have on teachers before implementing it. Lotrich asked the labor relations board to support the union's position. 'Teachers could not address the impact,' Lotrich told the labor relations board. 'There was not time to discuss what this would look like in the classroom.' The labor relations board, however, dismissed the complaint, saying the issue should be dealt with by the district and the union at the negotiating table. The policy, adopted by the school board in August, opened the door for discussion of alternative ideas during the teaching of evolution in science class. Supporters said it would ensure students follow the scientific principles of critical thinking. Opponents claim it is a way to slip religion into the classroom, allowing the introduction of the idea of intelligent design. The concept of intelligent design is that life forms are too complex to be explained solely by Darwinian evolutionary theory. In a later interview with the media, Lotrich said the policy had created confusion and frustration in the classroom. 'The majority of science instructors in Rio Rancho are opposed to the policy,' Lotrich said. 'It's disruptive if students want to talk about Bible verses.' He said it had an impact on a teacher's ability to teach to standards because all the interruptions are taking away valuable class time. He said the state's collective bargaining law required the district to discuss policies with the union that would have an impact on teachers. Some teachers have even threatened to quit because of the policy, he said. ... The school board was scheduled to review the policy at its March 13 meeting. However, that meeting was postponed until tonight, so the policy discussion was moved to the April 10 meeting.

Source: http://www.abqjournal.com/riorancho/442244west_news03-16-06.htm (subscription)

March 15th, 2006: Albuquerque Tribune Editorial, "Mayor-elect's pledge alleviates concerns."

The Trib opined "Best of luck to Rio Rancho Mayor-elect Kevin Jackson, whose victory in last week's election puts him in the driver's seat of that city at a crucial period in time. Clearly Jackson, who is an advocate of "family values," marshaled significant political support and resources in unseating Rio Rancho's popular incumbent mayor, Jim Owen. ... ackson, who is executive director of the New Mexico Family Council, said he plans to return his annual mayoral salary of $12,192 to the city coffers. It's admirable. He also insists he will be able to keep his two jobs distinct, telling The Tribune's Megan Arredondo ("Rio leader says he can detach advocacy," March 9) that he is 'not a stranger to wearing two hats.' That's good, because it would be a mistake to assume his narrow election represents a mandate to impose his personal values - no matter how certain he may be about them - on all citizens of Rio Rancho. ... This is not an idle concern, because it is a mistake that Jackson's wife, Kathy Jackson, made as a Rio Rancho school board member in sponsoring a board policy that allows Rio Rancho schools to incorporate discussion of "alternative" theories to biological evolution - such as the religious-based idea of 'intelligent design.' As The Tribune pointed out in an editorial at that time, 'intelligent design' is not science, but belief - religion masquerading as science. The board's action was an assault on science education and science teachers. It undermined the city's children - who are entitled to sound science education - as well as the city's reputation of strongly supporting science, engineering and technology in schools and commerce. Neither the Jacksons, nor the city or school district they serve, can pick and chose among scientific theories they wish to endorse. The same, broad scientific principles that make Intel microchip processing a lucrative industry for Rio Rancho are fundamental to science instruction in city schools. Not surprisingly, Kevin Jackson's election drew interest and comment from New Mexicans for Science and Reason, whose president, Dave Thomas, said this husband-and-wife political duo bears watching. ..."

Source: http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/op_editorials/article/0,2565,ALBQ_19867_4543545,00.html

March 7th, 2006: Kevin Jackson elected Mayor of Rio Rancho. The Albuquerque Tribune reported on March 10th that "The new mayor-elect of Rio Rancho says he'll have no problem separating his role as a public servant from the "family values" advocacy group he founded and runs. Two local political analysts say it remains to be seen how Kevin Jackson will draw the line. 'I'm not a stranger to wearing different hats,' Jackson said Wednesday, the day after his victory over incumbent Jim Owen and City Councilor Michael Williams. ... Dave Thomas, president of New Mexicans for Science and Reason, said he'll keep an eye on Jackson and his wife, Kathy Jackson, a Rio Rancho School Board member. Last year, the board made headlines when Kathy Jackson and two others voted to allow the discussion of alternative ideas - such as intelligent design - during the teaching of evolution. Kevin Jackson said he was never involved in that debate. During his campaign, Jackson said he wants to bring more high-tech jobs to the city. Thomas said it may be difficult to attract scientists who could fill those jobs if the city promotes intelligent design, a belief favored by many Christian groups who say Charles Darwin's theory of evolution can't explain the origins and complexities of life. 'It seems to be a weird position for Jackson to be in,' Thomas said. ..."

Source: http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19858_4527556,00.html

Fordham Foundation releases Report on The State of State Science Standards. Dave Thomas reports on The Panda's Thumb on Dec. 7th that "It’s near the end of the fall term, and Report Cards are in! The Fordham Foundation report on America’s science standards, 'The State of State Science Standards 2005,' has been released. ... There are some key points emerging from this report. For one, this year’s dumbing-down of Kansas standards got the Fordham folks mad - really mad. 'Note added In Proof: The early warnings have been justified. Kansas has adopted standards whose treatment of evolutionary material has been radically compromised. The effect transcends evolution, however. It now makes a mockery of the very definition of science. The grade for Kansas is accordingly reduced to F.' Additionally, the report directly contradicts the claims of the Discovery Institute’s incessant revisionists. ..."

Fordham Report Comments on Creationism disguised as "Critical Thinking"...

In the Fordham report, the authors make a comment that bears directly on the current Rio Rancho situation. They note that "Criterion E1, the first of the two concerned with seriousness about science education, denies credit points to any standards that include, inter alia, 'creationist anti-evolutionism disguised as critical thinking.' The inclusion of such anti-evolution content is a goal of contemporary 'intelligent design' creationism, now overtaking other, older forms of creationism in the perennial struggle to discredit 'Darwinism.' A decade ago, this movement, which acquired a command post and funding source in the Discovery Institute of Seattle, Washington, argued vigorously for explicit teaching of the evidence for intelligent design—for the role of external, conscious agency in the history of life on Earth. When examined by qualified scientists and mathematicians, however, that evidence turned out not to be evidence, and so it remains— no evidence — at the time of writing. The promoters of intelligent design creationism have perforce retreated to arguments that invoke the popular and conveniently vague educationist formula, 'critical thinking.' The claim now is that evidence against 'Darwinism' exists, that curriculum-makers should include it as an exercise in critical thinking, and that 'freedom of speech' or 'fairness' requires that they do so. The hidden agenda is to introduce doubt—any possible doubt—about evolution at the critical early stage of introduction to the relevant science. ..."