The Revisionaries

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Movie Details

• Genre: Documentary
• Release Date: 2012-10-05 Dallas
• Running Time: 92 min.
• Director: Scott Thurman
• Cast: David Anderson, Connie Barlow, Jessica Beckham, Kimberly Bilica, Heidi Boles, Chris Comer, Bob Craig, Michael Dowd, Cynthia Dunbar, Raymond Eve
• Producers: Pierson Silver, Orlando Wood, Scott Thurman
• Writers: Jawad Metni, Scott Thurman
• Distributor: Kino Lorber
• Official Site: The Revisionaries Official Site

If you were under the impression that the theory of evolution enjoyed widespread acceptance as the most rigorously tested, scientifically respected explanation for the development of life on earth, you're probably living somewhere other than the United States. Enter the Texas State Board of Education, which has in recent years demanded wording added to school textbooks questioning the scientific consensus of evolution and reframing our nation's history to more strongly emphasize the Christian principles. In Texas, the state itself--not individual districts--decides which textbooks can be bought. This makes Texas one of the largest markets for textbooks in the U.S., with publishers naturally catering to the whims of their biggest buyers. In short, those Texans have an outsize power in setting textbook standards for the country as a whole. The Revisionaries follows the board's most recent round of textbook-standards hearings, with the spotlight on then board chairman Don McLeroy. McLeroy, a dentist by trade, is an avowed "young-earth creationist," and sees no conflict between his personal beliefs and his duties overseeing the science standards for millions of public school students. Thurman does an admirable job portraying McLeroy with some objectivity. But following the man as he attempts to demonstrate to his Sunday school class how easily all of earth's "critters" could fit into the ark (using sports cones on a soccer field for measurement) smacks of gratuitousness. That said, the changes to textbook standards implemented during McLeroy's tenure will remain in place until 2020, long enough for two full classes of Texas high school students to have received their education (or not) under his influence.