“I think the safest and best route to go, then, is to keep the exact language as it currently exists, which has been tried and 1 for two decades.” said Dunbar, whose district includes Williamson County and parts of Travis County. “It has in no way risen to the level of a government agency of any kind (being involved in) inappropriate religious activity.”
Her initial motion was defeated by a 7-7 vote, with board member Rene Nunez, D-El Paso, absent from the room. Dunbar’s subsequent motion — to require students to evaluate scientific theories “by examining scientific evidence supportive or not supportive of those explanations” instead of by evaluating “strengths and weaknesses” — was also defeated.
Board member Mavis Knight, D-Dallas, who voted against both of Dunbar’s amendments, said the longevity of he “strength and weaknesses” language did not mean that it was appropriate.
“The ‘strengths and weaknesses’ phrase has taken on a different meaning from what it might have meant perhaps 10 years ago or 20 years ago,” Knight said.
