Commentary: The public is invited to join the Rally for Science Education on Monday outside the Public Education Department’s hearing on proposed science-curriculum standards.
New Mexico’s Public Education Department has removed references to climate change and the age of the Earth from new science standards it has proposed for public schools.
Teachers, scientists, government-accountability organizations, faith groups and other New Mexicans will gather Monday outside the public hearing on the draft standards and call for the state to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards as they were written, to align with the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community.
The public is invited to join the event and bring signs to express support for non-politicized science education.
What: Rally for Science Education
When: 8:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16
Where: Sidewalk in front of Jerry Apodaca Education Building, 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe
Who: List of speakers:
8:30-8:34: Jeremy Sment, parent; introduction
8:36-8:40: Rabbi Neil Amswych, Rabbi and former astrophysicist
8:42-8:46: David Craft, meteorologist
8:48-8:52: Charles Bowyer, executive director, National Education Association New Mexico
8:54-8:58: Ellen Loehman, New Mexico Science Teachers Association
9 a.m. NM PED Public hearing begins
9-9:04: David Coss, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter chair, former Santa Fe mayor
9:06-9:10: Ruby Lopez, Earthcare eductor
9:12-9:16: Meredith Machen, League of Women Voters New Mexico
9:18-9:22: Cherry Dzur and high-school students, Children’s Trust
9:24-9:28: Joan Brown, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light
9:30-12 p.m.: Open microphone at the park on corner of Don Diego and Galisteo
12 p.m.: NM PED Public hearing ends
Supporting groups:
Bernalillo County Democratic Party Strike Force
Citizens' Climate Lobby
Climate Parents
Conservation Voters of NM
Democratic Party of New Mexico
Earth
Earth Care
Energy Foundation
Environment NM
Food and Water Watch
Moms Clean Air Force
National Center for Science Education
National Education Association- New Mexico
New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light
New Mexico Science Teachers
NM InterFaith Power and Light
NM Solar Energy Association
Retake Our Democracy
Santa Fe Citizens' Climate Lobby
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
Temple Beth Shalom