Texas Ed Board compromises on evolution materials
By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The Texas State Board of Education delivered a blow to social conservatives Friday, giving final approval to supplemental high school science materials after a brief flare-up over some lessons teaching the principles of evolution.
The lessons in question included a lab comparison on chimpanzee and human skulls, the fossil record and cell complexity.
A board-appointed reviewer had called the lessons errors and recommended changes, but a group of scientists objected on Friday, threatening to re-ignite a fierce debate over teaching evolution in Texas public schools.
The board's social conservatives compromised when it appeared they would lose a vote to reject the reviewer's changes in favor of the original lessons.
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