[1][2] Comer's resignation has sparked controversy about agency politics and the debate to teach evolution in public schools versus creationism or intelligent design.
[4][5] On October 26, 2007,[6] Comer forwarded to a local online community an email message[7] from the National Center for Science Education promoting a November 2, 2007, talk by Barbara Forrest in Austin, Texas.
[1] Newspaper editorial boards have been critical of the actions of TEA officials,[12] including The New York Times,[13] Houston Chronicle,[14] Austin American-Statesman,[15] Corpus Christi Caller-Times,[16] Waco Tribune-Herald,[17] and Philadelphia Daily News.
[4] University of Minnesota Morris professor PZ Myers wrote that it was surprising that Barbara Forrest's lecture should be viewed as improper for those interested in educating children appropriately.
[9] The Dallas Morning News drew attention to the possible role in the Comer case played by disappointment of conservative elements of the Texas community at the decision on textbook purchases in 2003.
Dentist Don McLeroy, a conservative member of the State Board of Education, was unhappy with the 2003 11-4 vote to purchase biology textbooks that did not champion intelligent design.
All we did was stay with evidence, and we got run over.In July 2007, McLeroy was made chairman of the State Board of Education by Texas Governor Rick Perry.
The Spectator conjectures that this opportunity will be used by intelligent design supporters to more aggressively press efforts to "teach the controversy", a Discovery Institute program to introduce creationism into the classroom and avoid legal jeopardy.
Appeal arguments were heard in April, 2010,[30] and the court ruled on July 2, 2010, that the TEA's policy does not violate the First Amendment's religious freedom clause because it does not advance or inhibit the practice of religion.