Four US states considering laws that challenge teaching of evolution

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Four US states considering laws that challenge teaching of evolution

Paul Harris in New York
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 31 January 2013 16.31 GMT

Four US states are considering new legislation about teaching science in schools, allowing pupils to to be taught religious versions of how life on earth developed in what critics say would establish a backdoor way of questioning the theory of evolution.

Fresh legislation has been put forward in Colorado, Missouri and Montana. In Oklahoma, there are two bills before the state legislature that include potentially creationist language.

A watchdog group, the National Center for Science Education, said that the proposed laws were framed around the concept of "academic freedom". It argues that religious motives are disguised by the language of encouraging more open debate in school classrooms. However, the areas of the curriculum highlighted in the bills tend to focus on the teaching of evolution or other areas of science that clash with traditionally religious interpretations of the world.

"Taken at face value, they sound innocuous and lovely: critical thinking, debate and analysis. It seems so innocent, so pure. But they chose to question only areas that religious conservatives are uncomfortable with. There is a religious agenda here," said Josh Rosenau, an NCSE program and policy director.

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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/31/states-laws-challenge-teaching-evolution

[sakabatou]

1. Of course. They pulled this shit before

[fizzgig]

2. the right in colorado seems a bit loonier this year

this is the first time it's come up in my lifetime. and they want to extend it to colleges and universities.

*headdesk*

[elleng]

3. OK in colleges, and universities,

where critical thinking SHOULD be encouraged; not so much in primary school, not as to science anyway. IMO

[fizzgig]

8. science deals with facts

religion deals with belief and religious beliefs should not be taught alongside science. it can be debated if brought up, but science teachers should not be asked to teach it.

here's a line from the bill

The educational authorities of higher education in Colorado shall also endeavor to assist teachers to find more effective ways to present science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies.

and my tax dollars still go to public colleges and universities. if someone wants to learn creationism, let them go to a private college.

[caraher]

13. Critical thinking is appropriate before college, but

this is about providing a back door for bringing in discredited anti-science propaganda.

[elleng]

17. Right, which is why I suggested they wait.

Science is too important to enable youngsters to be propagandized. Youth, with decent primary (and high school) science backgrounds, should be prepared to be critical.

[caraher]

18. I guess the other issue is teachers

Too many (not all!) elementary teachers are, frankly, afraid of science. It's a shame because kids are natural scientists - they want to know how things work!

[elleng]

19. Right, and creative teachers,

and teachers who are encouraged by their administrations to be such, can make science, and learning science, fun.

One example. (Sorry, don't have pic here.) 'As part of their study of lenses, these 4th grade scientists observed the difference between looking at things with their eyes, with binoculars, and then with two telescopes.' This from my daughters' elementary school. (Daughters are adults now.)

[Initech]

5. Do a Google search on religious right + Air Force Academy. They're a lot crazier than you think.

[fizzgig]

9. oh, i know they're batshit down there

i should have said the right in the leg, i just never expected this to come up here.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. They are determine to undermind critical thinking. Also science to me are facts where

religion of creationism is a crock. Our children are expected to go out in the big world and compete with other nations for jobs of the future. Having science put in the back sit or room is going to hurt the kids who really want to learn science for their future.

[Angry Dragon]

6. I say go for it as long as they have facts to back up their views

[denverbill]

7. In some ways, I almost wish they'd get their wish.

Most science teachers are probably not religious fundies. Sure let's take a look at the science behind the creation story and see how evidence for Creationism stacks up against evolution. Or how evidence of the age of the universe stacks up against the 6000 year old earth story. Maybe we continue on with calculating the dimensions and materials required to create an ark big enough to provide housing and food for every species on earth for weeks, and how they managed to populate the new world and Australia with species not found in the Middle East where the ark landed. And then on to Jonah and the three days he spent living inside a whale.

[msongs]

10. christians can't win the debate via churches so they want to hijack public schools in the "name"

of science. maybe they should try it in literature classes, science...fiction

[aka-chmeee]

11. Really disturbing BUT....

At least it isn't Kansas this time!

[caraher]

12. They forget Indiana

Under the bland title "Teaching Methods"

[Posteritatis]

14. And they'll all last five minutes into their first court challenge

Love Kitzmiller v. Dover.

[Laochtine]

15. Accredited Colleges and Universities

Should state that they will not admit kids with a creation science background until the learn Evolution.
That might give the fundies pause.

[TheIronyLovesCompany]

16. That's a new one

Wow, never thought I'd see the Right take a stand for academic freedom. As long as it's academics saying some ancient hoary book is smarter than scientists, they'll sign off on it.

[progressoid]

20. critical thinking, debate, analysis & creationism