Hundreds protest proposed changes to NM science curriculum

By KRQE News 13 and Jackie Kent

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – People have passionate feelings about the Public Education Department’s proposal to change the way science is taught in the state.

Many at a heated public forum in Santa Fe Monday said they worry this is an attack on teaching evolution and climate change while the PED maintained the move is about giving teachers more flexibility.

“This is about an assault on the law between church and state,” one man said during the forum.

More than 100 people had no hesitation laying into the PED’s proposed STEM-Ready Standards, which challenge evolution, climate change and questions the age of the earth.

Educators, students and others expressed concern over what they described as a politically driven, flawed curriculum from an economical and educational standpoint.

“Companies would be unwilling to relocate here,” Los Alamos Public School Board Secretary Ellen Ben-Naim said. “And Los Alamos — we have the National Lab, of course — and I’m worried about scientists even wanting to relocate here and to raise their families.”

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