Science Talk

J · Guest

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68149

State frees teachers to criticize evolution

Global warming, origins of life, cloning also may be scrutinized

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal this week signed into law the Louisiana Science
Education Act, which allows school districts to permit teachers to present
evidence, analysis and critique of evolution and other prevalent scientific
theories in public school classrooms.

The law came to the governor's desk after overwhelming support in the
legislature, including a unanimous vote in the state's Senate and a 93-4
vote in the House.

The act has been criticized by some as an attempt to insert religion into
science education and hailed by others as a blow for academic freedom in the
face of pressure to ignore flaws in politically correct scientific theories.

Robert Crowther, director of communications for The Discovery Institute, a
Seattle-based think tank on science and culture, called the act necessary.

In an article posted on The Discovery Institute's evolution news website,
Crowther wrote, "The law is needed for two reasons. First, around the
country, science teachers are being harassed, intimidated, and sometimes
fired for trying to present scientific evidence critical of Darwinian theory
along with the evidence that supports it. Second, many school administrators
and teachers are fearful or confused about what is legally allowed when
teaching about controversial scientific issues like evolution. The Louisiana
Science Education Act clarifies what teachers may be allowed to do."

Specifically, the act allows teachers in the state's public schools to
present evidence both for and against Darwinian theories of evolution and
allows local school boards to approve supplemental materials that may open
critical discussions of evolution, the origins of life, global warming,
human cloning and other scientific theories.

Teachers are still required by the act to follow the standardized science
curriculum, and school districts are required to authorize both the
teachers' classes and additional materials. The state's Board of Elementary
and Secondary Education will have the power to prohibit materials it deems
inappropriate, and the act prohibits religious instruction.

Section 1D of the act states that the law "shall not be construed to promote
any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular
set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion
or nonreligion."

Despite section 1D, many national voices, including the Americans United for
Separation of Church and State, a New York Times editorial, and the American
Civil Liberties Union opposed the measure.

Marjorie Esman, state director of Lousiana's ACLU told the New Orleans
Times-Picayune, "To the extent that this might invite religion in the public
school classroom, we will do everything we can do to keep religion out."

John West, a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute, however, said
opponents of the bill are misunderstanding it. Rather than being about
infusing intelligent design or creationism into the classroom, he contends,
the bill is about giving teachers the freedom to talk about the debates that
already exist in science, even among evolutionists themselves.

"This bill is not a license to propagandize against something they don't
like in science," West told the Times-Picayune. "Someone who uses materials
to inject religion into the classroom is not only violating the
Constitution, they are violating the bill."

Gov. Jindal released a statement at the time of the signing that read, in
part: "I will continue to consistently support the ability of school boards
and (the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) to make the best
decisions to ensure a quality education for our children."

--
J Young
Jvisions@live.com
Owner of 'LC'

Sam Buckland · Guest

J wrote:

LC · Guest

Meth-head "J" <Jvisions@live.com> wrote in message
news:203d82.t21.17.1@news.alt.net...

John Locke · Guest

On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:14:08 -0400, "J" <Jvisions@live.com> wrote:

Bob Officer · Guest

On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:14:08 -0400, in alt.abortion, "J"
<Jvisions@live.com> wrote:

IAAH · Guest

J wrote:

TimK · Guest

"J" <Jvisions@live.com> wrote in message
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John Baker · Guest

On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:14:08 -0400, "J" <Jvisions@live.com> wrote:

IBen, even you can't possibly be stupid enough to believe this idiocy
will survive the legal challenge that will almost certainly be
forthcoming.

(¯`·.¸Craig Chilton¸.·´¯ · Guest

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:32:59 +0100,
John Baker <nunya@bizniz.net> wrote:

John Baker · Guest

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:07:58 GMT, "(¯`·.¸Craig Chilton¸.·´¯) -- Rx
for RRR Cult's Loathsome Agendas: Extinction!" <xanadu@mchsi.com>
wrote:

(¯`·.¸Craig Chilton¸.·´¯ · Guest

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:50:04 +0100,
John Baker <nunya@bizniz.net> wrote: