Christine Comer

Christine Castillo Comer is the former Director of Science in the curriculum division of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Comer spent nine years as the Director of Science until she resigned on November 7, 2007.^[1][2] Comer's resignation has sparked controversy about agency politics and the debate to teach evolution in public schools versus creationism or intelligent design.

Prior to her position at the TEA, Comer was a middle school science teacher with San Antonio Independent School District.^[3]

Controversy over Evolution

Comer was "forced out"^[1] of her TEA position following recommendations by TEA officials for "repeated acts of misconduct and insubordination", but Comer and others believe that she was targeted based on religious concerns and the teaching of creationism in Texas public schools.^[4][5][6]

On October 26, 2007,^[7] Comer forwarded to a local online community an email message^[8] from the National Center for Science Education promoting a November 2, 2007, talk by Barbara Forrest in Austin, Texas. Forrest is a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University who served as an expert witness in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial, the 2005 landmark evolution-intelligent design court battle in Dover, Pennsylvania, and co-authored the book Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design.^[1]

The call to fire Comer came from Lizzette Reynolds, deputy commissioner for statewide policy and programs.^[4] Reynolds, who has a degree in political science and has no teaching experience, joined the TEA in January, 2007. Reynolds previously worked for a Texas state senator, as a lobbyist, as deputy legislative director for former Texas Governor George W. Bush, and in the U.S. Department of Education.^[9] In an email to Comer's supervisors, Reynolds called the email "highly inappropriate" and "an offense that calls for termination or, at the very least, reassignment of responsibilities."^[4] Reynolds has subsequently backtracked, expressing her surprise over Comer's resignation to The Austin American-Statesman.^[10]

Shortly after sending the email, Comer was placed on administrative leave. Agency official Monica Martinez cited the e-mail in a memo^[11] recommending her termination, stating, among other complaints, that "Ms. Comer's e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that TEA endorses the speaker's position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral."^[4]

The TEA is scheduled to review, and possibly revise, its science curriculum in 2008. Some evolution proponents worry that politicization of the TEA may increase the influence of those lobbying for teaching of creationism and intelligent design.^[12] The issue is compounded by the recent appointment of Don McLeroy as chairman of the Texas State Board of Education. McLeroy has made past comments supporting the teaching of creationism^[4] and intelligent design.^[1]

Response

Newspaper editorial boards have been critical of the actions of TEA officials,^[13] including the New York Times,^[14] Houston Chronicle,^[15] Austin American-Statesman,^[16] Corpus Christi Caller-Times,^[17] Waco Tribune-Herald,^[18] and Philadelphia Daily News.^[19] and this event has garnered a fair amount of negative press coverage.^[20]

Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education stated that this event "underscores the politicization of science education in Texas".^[4] University of Minnesota Morris professor PZ Myers wrote that it was surprising that Barbara Forrest's lecture should be viewed as improper for those interested in educating children appropriately.^[21] Steven Schafersman of the Texas Citizens for Science suggests that there was a change in policy at the TEA after the appointments of Don McLeroy as Chairman of the State Board of Education and Robert Scott as Commissioner of Education.^[5]

Comer described the situation in a December 7, 2007, broadcast of Science Friday on National Public Radio.^[22] Comer stated that she has received support emails from teachers across Texas expressing that they have been pressured not to teach evolution.^[23]

Over 100 Texas biology professors signed a letter on December 10, 2007 to Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott stating that TEA employees should not have to remain neutral on evolution.^[24]

Robert Scott hinted that there was more to the story, but he did not dare speak about it for fear of being sued. "I am really frustrated with the issue, knowing the truth and not being able to talk about it," Scott is reported as saying by the Waco Tribune-Herald.^[25] Scott told The Dallas Morning News that, "You can be in favor of science without bashing people’s faith." The New York Times reports that Comer said in response that she wanted the commissioner to indicate where Comer was "bashing anyone’s faith". “He just doesn’t get it,” Comer opined.^[10]

The Dallas Morning News drew attention to the possible role in the Comer case played by disappointment of conservative elements of the Texas community at the decision on textbook purchases in 2003. Dentist Don McLeroy, a conservative member of the State Board of Education, was unhappy with the 2003 11-4 vote to purchase biology textbooks that did not champion intelligent design. Afterwards, he is reported to have said to a church group,

How can the materialistic philosophic naturalistic base dependency of Darwinism be brought into the discussion and used for our benefit? We didn't use it. All we did was stay with evidence, and we got run over.

In July 2007, McLeroy was made chairman of the State Board of Education by Texas Governor Rick Perry.^[26]

The Washington Spectator suggests that the goal was to remove Comer prior to the meetings to revise the science standards component of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills document, which will influence the design of science textbooks nationwide. The Spectator conjectures that this opportunity will be used by intelligent design supporters to more aggressively press efforts to "teach the controversy", a Discovery Institute program to introduce creationism into the classroom and avoid legal jeopardy. Comer told the Spectator that since she was forced to resign, many teachers in rural Texas have contacted her to tell her that they are already being forced to teach creationism in Texas public school science classes.^[27]

Lawsuit

In mid 2008, Comer filed a suit in federal court in Austin, Texas, that stated that the policy she was terminated for contravening (which required employees to be neutral on the subject of creationism) was unconstitutional, as the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that teaching creationism as science in public schools is illegal. Comer also stated in her complaint that she was fired without due process after serving as the state science director for nearly 10 years. Her lawsuit sought a court order overturning the neutrality policy on teaching creationism and declaring that her dismissal was illegal under the Constitution and her reinstatement.^[28] A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit on March 31, 2009.^[29]

In August 2009, Comer appealed the dismissal decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (docket 09-50401). Appeal arguments were heard in April, 2010,^[30] and the court ruled on July 2, 2010, that the TEA's policy does not violate the First Amendment's religious freedom clause because it does not advance or inhibit the practice of religion.^[31]

See also

• Creation and evolution in public education‎

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Official Leaves Post as Texas Prepares to Debate Science Education Standards", New York Times, December 3, 2007
2. ^ Castillo Comer, Chris (2007-11-07). "To Whom It May Concern (resignation letter)". Austin American-Statesman. http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/statesman/pdf/11/112907science_resignation.pdf. 
3. ^ REBECCA SPARKS AWARD FOR SCIENCE LEADERSHIP, Press Online, Volume 4, January, 2007, Texas Council of Elementary Science website
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "State science curriculum director resigns", Austin American-Statesman, November 29, 2007
5. ^ ^{a b} Schafersman, Steven (2007-11-29). "TEA Director of Science Forced to Resign". Texas Citizens for Science. http://www.texscience.org/reviews/tea-science-director-resigns.htm. 
6. ^ The Associated Press (2007-11-30). "Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us/30resign.html?. 
7. ^ "Hey Science, Don't Mess with Texas", Zach Marks, December 1, 2007, Huffington Post
8. ^ The contents of the email can be found in the article "Texas education official forced to resign over evolution". National Center for Science Education. 2007-11-29. http://ncse.com/news/2007/11/texas-education-official-forced-to-resign-over-evolution-001143. 
9. ^ On intelligent design, a lesson in Political Science 101, Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
10. ^ ^{a b} Green Light for Institute on Creation in Texas, Ralph Blumenthal, The New York Times, December 19, 2007.
11. ^ Martinez, Texas Education Agency, Monica (2007-11-05). "Proposed disciplinary action". Austin American-Statesman. http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/statesman/pdf/11/112907science_memo.pdf. 
12. ^ Barbara Forrest on Chris Comer's forced resignation: Statement Regarding Texas Education Agency's Termination of Chris Comer, Texas Director of Science, Barbara Forrest, National Center for Science Education, December 5, 2007.
13. ^ "Reaction to the Comer resignation", National Center for Science Education official website, December 4, 2007, retrieved on December 6, 2007
14. ^ "Evolution and Texas", New York Times, December 4, 2007
15. ^ Ouster of science curriculum chief suggests religious doctrine might be infecting education agency, Editorial, Houston Chronicle, Dec. 4, 2007
16. ^ "Is misdeed a creation of political doctrine?", Austin American-Statesman, December 1, 2007
17. ^ "Official forced out for telling the truth on intelligent design", Corpus Christi Caller-Times, December 4, 2007
18. ^ "John Young: Politicization of science", Waco Tribune-Herald, December 04, 2007
19. ^ Textbook lesson in creationism, Gloria C. Endres, Philadelphia Daily News, December 17, 2007 [Link out-of-date].
20. ^ Heinauer, Laura (2007-11-29). "State science curriculum director resigns: Move comes months before comprehensive curriculum review". Austin American-Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/11/29/1129science.html. 
21. ^ PZ Myers (2007-11-29). "Fear of Barbara Forrest". Pharyngula (blog). http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/11/fear_of_barbara_forrest.php. 
22. ^ Education and Evolution in Texas (broadcast Friday, December 7th, 2007), NPR Science Friday
23. ^ "Former science director speaks up about losing her job", December 7, 2007, News 8 Austin
24. ^ "Letter from Texas University Biology Professors Defending Biological Evolution as a Central Pillar of Modern Science Education", December 10, 2007
25. ^ Eight Baylor professors join peers voicing support for evolution education, Laura Heinauer, Waco Tribune-Herald, Wednesday, December 12, 2007.
26. ^ Teaching of evolution to go under microscope: Director's departure opens door for changes in Texas' curriculum, Karen Ayres Smith, The Dallas Morning News, December 13, 2007.
27. ^ CREATIONISM IN THE CLASSROOM: Is Darwin Losing the Battle With God?, Lauri Lebo, Washington Spectator, January 1, 2008.
28. ^ "Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail", Terence Stutz, The Dallas Morning News, July 3, 2008
29. ^ "Suit dismissed in firing over creationism e-mail", The Dallas Morning News, April 1, 2009
30. ^ "Firing over creationism e-mail leads to appeal", MSNBC, April 26, 2010
31. ^ *"Comer loses appeal", NCSE, July 2, 2010
    *Case: 09-50401, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, filed July 2, 2010

External links

• Complaint, Christina Castillo Comer v. Robert Scott and Texas Education Agency

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