Texas school board chairman believes that God created the Universe 10,000 years ago. That is his personal belief. But what is is extremist is that he wants the school board to change the textbooks.
He also wants the texts to make the case that individual cells are far too complex to have evolved by chance mutation and natural selection, an argument popular with those who believe an intelligent designer created the universe.
Source: WSJ: Texas School Board Set to Vote on Challenge to Evolution
The textbooks will "have to say that there's a problem with evolution -- because there is," said Dr. McLeroy, a dentist. "We need to be honest with the kids."
That is fine. Science has it's flaws. But:
All members of the board have come under enormous pressure in recent months, especially three Republicans who support teaching evolution without references to "weaknesses." The state Republican Party passed a resolution urging the three to back Dr. McLeroy's preferred curriculum. A conservative activist group put out a news release suggesting all three were in the pocket of "militant Darwinists."
To me that is extremism!
Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards. - Wikipedia
Evolution is Biology. Intelligent Design (ID) is religion. Does freedom extend to teaching a religion in a science classroom?
Science works on refutability. Every scientific theory is refutable. If anyone wants to contest evolution - they have all the right to do so. But there is a process and a protocol for it.
None of these creationists can scientifically disprove evolution nor can they establish a scientific basis for ID. Hence the political approach.
I wonder why astrologers haven't tried to lobby astrology as an alternative to astronomy in the science curriculum.