The continuing battle over teaching the theory of evolution in Texas schools was fought over on Thursday when some board administrators called out a biology textbook for "factual errors," The Huffington Post reported.
The boardmembers critical of the textbook outlined 20 problems with the content, mostly relating to evolution and leading to a heated debate. In order to solve the problem, the board voted on allowing three of it's members to choose outside experts weigh their opinion on the matter.
If the experts help solve the matter, the book will be placed in Texas science classes. However, if they don't resolve the issue, the board will consider the matter again in January.
In Texas, the fight over teaching evolution versus creationism has raged on between school administrators for decades. In this specific matter, the battle is over a book that would be used in the next school year until 2022.
Two years ago, the state passed a law that allows schools to choose their own books instead of listening to the recommendations by the Board of Education, though most schools have stayed with the suggested choices.
"I believe this process is being hijacked, this book is being held hostage to make political changes," said Republican Thomas Ratliff, who is vice chairman of the Board of Education.
He added that the textbook is being used in "over half of the classrooms in the United States."
"To ask me - a business degree major from Texas Tech University - to distinguish whether the Earth cooled 4 billion years ago or 4.2 billion years ago for purposes of approving a textbook at 10:15 on a Thursday night is laughable," Ratliff said.
In respone to his comments, his colleagues on the other side said they "weren't laughing" about the matter.
