Perry Says Texas Schools Teach Creationism

The Texas Tribune reported yesterday on answers to questions about evolution given by Texas Gov. Rick Perry during his New Hampshire campaign stop. Perry, now a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, was asked about the topic by a young boy-- visibly prompted by his mother. Perry responded:

It’s a theory that’s out there. It’s got some gaps in it.  In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools. Because I figure you’re smart enough to figure out which one is right.

Creationism is not part of the formal science curriculum in Texas. However, in 2009, the State Board of Education voted to insert in the biology curriculum a call for students to "analyze and evaluate scientific explanations" on the complexity of cells as well as data on the "sudden appearance and stasis and the sequential groups in the fossil record." (See prior posting.)