The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 22, 1964 Page: 4 of 12
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EVOLUTION DEBATE
Controversial
laformation Center To Catalogue
Libraries' Technical Publications
By SUSAN BRIDGES
Thresher Editorial Staff
Despite vehement protests by
fundamentalist church groups,
the state textbook committee
last week recommended for use
in Texas public schools three
biology textbooks which include
the teaching of Darwin's
theory of evolution.
The five biology books recom-
mended by the Committee will
be reviewed by Texas Education
Commissioner J. W. Edgar and
the State Board of Education
before bieng finally decided up-
on by local school boards. Edgar
may veto no more than three
of the five recommended texts.
Tn a hearing reminiscent of
the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial,
the fifteen member committee
heard arguments condemning
the books as "completely mat-
erialistic and completely
atheistic."
'Vicious Attack'
Editor R. G. Lemmons of The
Firm Foundation, a Church of
Christ newspaper published in
Austin, denounced the books as
"the most vicious, attack we have
ever seen on tlie Christian re-
ligion."
The texts in question were
produced through a joint effort
of the National Science Founda-
tion and t lie American Institute
of Biological Scientists. Accord-
ing to Rice biologist Dr. Val
\\ oodward the A1BS counts as
members most of the practicing
bii'Iiigical scientists in the na-
tion.
P'o texts which drew the
most fire, "Biological Science:
■Molecules to Man," "High
School Biology," and "Biological
Science: An Inquiry into Life,"
are part of the Biological Sci-
ence Curriculum Study and
were tested in classrooms and
revised by teachers and scient-
ists for five years before release
for publication.
Involution Important
Robert Laing of Cypress-Fair-
banks. in an interview earlier
this week, told the Thresher
why he and other citizens pro-
tested the books. "Personally
1 feel that the theory of evolu-
tion is important. It should and
will be taught in our schools.
But I think that it is a denial of
academic freedom to present
111 is theory and not to present
any other point of view."
Mr. Laing denounced the
books as "dogmatic" and de-
plored "the use of taxpayers
money for the benefit of private
publishers." The texts were
published for NSF by Rand-
McNally, Houghton, Mifflin,
and Harcourt, Brace and World.
"My main complaint," assert-
ed Mr. Laing, "is that evolution
is only a theory, one of many
theories, but in the BSCS series
is presented as a fact."
Dr. Woodward strongly ob-
jected -to this 'assertion: "It is
a fallacy!" He explained that
he had, examined the texts and
they present the theory of
evolution as a theory only.
Woodward readily admits that
"the theory of evolution isn't
a fact. A theory can't be a fact
anymore than an 'apple can be
an orange. It is a generalization
which accounts for the facts
better than any other explana-
tion yet presented."
Woodward further explained
that "Evolution can never be
taught as a fact except by in-
dividual teachers; who them-
selves do not understand the
difference between fact of
theory. If everyone understood
the nature of scientific theory,
the relationship between theory
and fact, and the role of su-
spended judgment, there would
be no problem."
Opposing Testimony
Among those who either do
not understand this position or
disagree with it are ministers,
lawyers, and college professors.
Testifying in opposition to the
textbooks were the President of
Harding College in Searcy,
Akansas; Dr. Douglas Dean, a
biology professor from Pepper-
dine college in Los Angeles; and
Dr. Thomas Barnes, a physics
professor from Texas Western
University.
Physicist Barnes is a leading
member of the Creation Re-
search Society which disputes
the Darwinian theory of evolu- -
tion and asserts that world
came into existence by an act
of God during "Creation Week."
Over 1500 letters have been,
written concerning the disputed
texts, many from top educators
and scientists both from Texas
and throughout the nation.
Episcopal Statement
The only oral testimony in
favor of the textbooks came
from publishers' representatives
who testified that eyolution is
presented just as a theory and
it is not claimed as a fact. One
representative explained that
his book "shows how God chose
to put us here, rather than
teaching atheism."
This view is supported by a
study made by the Committee
on Christian Social Relations of
the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
They found upon examining the
P.U. Meets Tonight
The Rice Political Union
will convene tonight at 7:30
in the Fondren Library Lec-
ture Lounge, to discuss the
presidential campaign. The
divided-house format will al-
low most present to speak for
two minutes following two
five-minute opening haran-
gues. The meeting will be
ended with a vote in the house
on the presidential candidates.
disputed books that the manner
in which evolution is presented
in no way raises any theological
questions. The texts say no-
thing about the ultimate source
of life or about God, and there-
fore the committee contends
that any problems they raise
concerning evolution isi one for
biologists and not for theologi-
ans.
Controversy Continues
But the controversy has not
ended with the recommendation
made by the State Text Book
Committee. The Cypress Fair-
banks group has requested time
before the State Board of Ed-
ucation to present their case on
November 8.
According to Mr. Laing they
hope to eliminate the BSCS
series from consideration. Even-
though' the other two recom-
mended texts both consider
Darwinian evolution, in Mr.
Laing's words, 'they are not as
dogmatic and, were not publish-
ed at taxpayers' expenses."
"Last week's decision was in
favor of the texts despite the
fact that the majority of testi-
mony was in opposition," added
Mr. Laing. "We hope for a
favorable decision next month."
As: rsoon as funds become
available Houston will have a
unique Technical Information
Center. ^
In the area there are over
fifty libraries which try to ful-
fill the resource needs of scien-
tists and engineers; some of the
material is needlessly dupli-
cated, and some is not known
to be available. The Technical
Information Center is being de-
signed to coordinate the exist-
ing agencies.
Individual libraries have
tried to help out others through
such means: as photocopying
service and interlibrary loan,
but the needs of researchers
are growing larger than can
simply be handled at this level.
Publications Listed
In 1963 a committee of acade-
mic and industrial librarians
organized the "Houston List of
Scientific and Technical Serial
Publications." Over 800 titles
are on file in this volume.
Fondren Library had pointed
the way in 1954 with the pub-
lication of approximately a
thousand technical periodicals
available at Rice Institute. The
number now received at Rice
University is nearer three
thousand.
Industries rely heavily on our
library and that of the Univer-
sity of Houston, but accommo-
dating them places a burden on
these academic institutions.
Users Pay
The Technical Information
Center is to be a self-sustaining
venture once it is put into
operation, for the organizations
deriving benefit from it will
be its: financial support. Setting
it up and managing it for the
first two years is estimated to
cost somewhat over $200,000.
Miss Sara Aull of the Univer-
sity of Houston has been in-
strumental in planning the Tech-
nical Information Center. She
is hoping that the proposed
center will incorporate advances
in the communication field such
as teletype and facsimile trans-
mission.
Enjoy Pocket Billiards, Snooker, Regular Billiards, Your
Favorite Food, Refreshments, Best in Stereo Music at . . .
CLOSE TO
THE HEART
OF THE
CAMPUS
2519 University Blvd.
JA 8-1509
Also Bellaire: MO 5-5557
2438 Rice Blvd. Phone JA 4-9253
(In The Village)
Harold's
Garage
JA 8-5323
* Automatic Transmissions
* Paint & Body Shop
* Air Conditioning
* Foreign Cars
* Wrecker Service
2431 DUNSTAN
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Kelly, Hugh Rice. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 22, 1964, newspaper, October 22, 1964; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth244924/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.