Jeremy & I have commented before on the creationists in Texas . . . the creationist chair of their state board of education, the firing of the state's top science education specialist from the state department of education because she forwarded a notice for an anti-ID talk . . .

So stop me if you've heard this before:

A group of curriculum experts labor for a long time writing up the best state standards possible for the kids in their state.

Shortly before those standards are due to be adopted, a different set of standards is circulated by the conservative board members. Nobody is quite sure exactly who wrote up these standards, and the board chairman doesn't allow time for all of the board to read through the substitute standards before voting on them.

Nevertheless, the standards are bullied through by the board chairman.

Sound familiar?

No, not Kansas science standards adoption in 1999 or 2005, but close.

These were English and reading standards. In Texas, a state known for low levels of literacy. (warning - pdf link; see pp. 17 & 18).

What kind of chicanery will the board chairman and his cronies be ready to pull when the science standards come up for adoption later this fall?