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Christina Castillo Comer is the former Director of Science in the curriculum division of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Comer spent nine years as the Director of Science until she resigned on November 7, 2007.〔 Comer's resignation has sparked controversy about agency politics and the debate to teach evolution in public schools versus creationism or intelligent design. Prior to her position at the TEA, Comer was a middle school science teacher with San Antonio Independent School District.〔(''REBECCA SPARKS AWARD FOR SCIENCE LEADERSHIP'' ), (Press Online ), Volume 4, January, 2007, (Texas Council of Elementary Science website )〕 == Controversy over Evolution == Comer was "forced out"〔 of her TEA position following recommendations by TEA officials for "repeated acts of misconduct and insubordination", but Comer and others believe that she was targeted based on religious concerns and the teaching of creationism in Texas public schools.〔("State science curriculum director resigns" ), ''Austin American-Statesman'', November 29, 2007〕 On October 26, 2007,〔("Hey Science, Don't Mess with Texas" ), Zach Marks, December 1, 2007, Huffington Post〕 Comer forwarded to a local online community an email message〔The contents of the email can be found in the article 〕 from the National Center for Science Education promoting a November 2, 2007, talk by Barbara Forrest in Austin, Texas. Forrest is a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University who served as an expert witness in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial, the 2005 landmark evolution-intelligent design court battle in Dover, Pennsylvania, and co-authored the book ''Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design''.〔("Official Leaves Post as Texas Prepares to Debate Science Education Standards" ), ''New York Times'', December 3, 2007〕 The call to fire Comer came from Lizzette Reynolds, deputy commissioner for statewide policy and programs.〔 Reynolds, who has a degree in political science and has no teaching experience, joined the TEA in January, 2007. Reynolds previously worked for a Texas state senator, as a lobbyist, as deputy legislative director for former Texas Governor George W. Bush, and in the U.S. Department of Education.〔(On intelligent design, a lesson in Political Science 101 ), Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram〕 In an email to Comer's supervisors, Reynolds called the email "highly inappropriate" and "an offense that calls for termination or, at the very least, reassignment of responsibilities."〔 Reynolds has subsequently backtracked, expressing her surprise over Comer's resignation to ''The Austin American-Statesman''.〔 Shortly after sending the email, Comer was placed on administrative leave. Agency official Monica Martinez cited the e-mail in a memo recommending her termination, stating, among other complaints, that "Ms. Comer's e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that TEA endorses the speaker's position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral."〔 The TEA is scheduled to review, and possibly revise, its science curriculum in 2008. Some evolution proponents worry that politicization of the TEA may increase the influence of those lobbying for teaching of creationism and intelligent design.〔(''Barbara Forrest on Chris Comer's forced resignation: Statement Regarding Texas Education Agency's Termination of Chris Comer, Texas Director of Science'' ), Barbara Forrest, National Center for Science Education, December 5, 2007.〕 The issue is compounded by the recent appointment of Don McLeroy as chairman of the Texas State Board of Education. McLeroy has made past comments supporting the teaching of creationism〔 and intelligent design.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Christine Comer」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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