North Texas Skeptic - Vol 22 No 05 - 2008

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 22, Number 5, published in May 2008, is a periodical focused on promoting scientific skepticism and critical thinking, particularly in opposition to creationism and pseudoscience. The issue features a prominent article on the denial of certification for the Institute for Creation Research's (ICR) master's degree program in Texas.

ICR Denied Certification in Texas

The lead article, by Glenn Branch, details the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board's unanimous vote on April 24, 2008, to deny the ICR's request for a state certificate of authority to offer a master's degree in science education. This decision was based on a recommendation from the board's Academic Excellence and Research Committee, which in turn followed a recommendation by Raymund Paredes, the Texas Commissioner of Higher Education. Paredes cited two primary reasons: the proposed program did not meet acceptable standards of science and science education, and it was inconsistent with board rules requiring accurate labeling, as it inadequately covered key areas of science. The article quotes Paredes stating, "Evolution is such a fundamental principle of contemporary science it is hard to imagine how you could cover the various fields of science without giving it the proper attention it deserves as a foundation of science." The denial was supported by a survey of Texas science faculty members, with 95% opposing the ICR's request. The article also notes that the ICR has 45 days to appeal or 180 days to reapply, and the chief executive officer of ICR, Henry Morris III, indicated they would pursue due process. The Austin American-Statesman editorially applauded the board's decision, calling it a "correct and principled stand."

National Center for Science Education (NCSE)

Another article, by John Blanton, focuses on the work of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), which has been protecting the teaching of science from political encroachment since 1981. The article highlights Eugenia C. Scott's leadership since 1987. It explains that the NCSE's primary focus is creationism, tracing its roots back to the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) and figures like Carl Baugh and Don Patton. The article references past legal victories for the NCSE, including Federal Judge William Overton's 1982 ruling that Young-Earth Creationism (YEC) is religion, not science, and the unconstitutionality of laws requiring "equal time" for creationism and evolution in Arkansas and Louisiana public schools. The piece notes the rise of Intelligent Design (ID) advocates, identified with the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture (CSC), who promote questioning Darwinism. The NCSE is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and publishes its own journal, "Reports of the National Center for Science Education." The article encourages readers to support the NCSE financially and mentions a book, "Doubting Darwin?" by Sahotra Sarkar, which analyzes arguments from CSC creationists Michael Behe and William Dembski.

Adventures in Web Hosting

John Blanton also contributes a piece detailing his experiences as the NTS Web master dealing with a cyberattack. He describes how his website was compromised by four PHP scripts that served up ad pages. Despite repeated attempts to delete the malicious scripts, they kept reappearing, leading him to take the entire site down and reload it to ensure security. He reassures readers that the site is back online and encourages them to report any issues.

Events and Meetings

The issue includes an "Events Calendar" listing the May Program, featuring a presentation by Rodrigo Neely on the film "Marjoe" on May 17th at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas. It also announces an NTS Social Dinner & Board Meeting on May 24th at Don Mexico restaurant in Dallas. A "Meeting Notice" section details the "Skeptics in the Pub: North Texas" meetings: the first on June 17th at the Absinthe Lounge in Dallas, and the June meeting of The North Texas Skeptics on June 21, 2008.

Skeptic Ink and Letters

A comic strip titled "Skeptic Ink" by Prasad Golla and John Blanton is included, humorously depicting a conversation about writing a fictional work inspired by a research paper on Intelligent Design. The "Letters" section features a letter from Michael Philips, promoting his forthcoming book "The Undercover Philosopher: A Guide to Detecting Lies, Shams and Delusions." He describes the book as a guide to identifying flawed reasoning and authoritative sources, drawing on various academic disciplines. He also offers a link to an online PDF of the introduction and suggests that Oneworld Publications would send review copies.

Other Content

The magazine also includes information about The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and its publication, "The Skeptical Inquirer," providing subscription details and contact information. An "Application for Membership" for The North Texas Skeptics is included on the back page, outlining membership benefits, dues, and subscription options, along with a donation request and website address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the defense of scientific integrity in education against creationist and pseudoscientific claims, the importance of critical thinking and skepticism, and the promotion of scientific literacy. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of established science and against the intrusion of religious or non-scientific viewpoints into science education. The publication actively supports organizations like the NCSE and CSICOP that work towards these goals.