It’s things like this that embarrass me when I tell someone I’m from Louisiana. The Louisiana House has voted overwhelmingly to pass the Louisiana Science Education Act which allows science teachers to use supplemental materials when teaching controversial subjects. For those who haven’t been there, in Louisiana, controversial subjects include: evolution, global warming, Keplerian astronomy and the round earth theory. Okay, I made the last one up – at least 85% of Louisiana households do believe that the earth is round.
Supporters of the bill say that it will promote critical thinking in science classrooms. Well, hey, who couldn’t be against critical thinking? Well, since the bill is supported by creationist Discovery Institute, I guess me. But at least I’m in good company:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based advocacy group, said the bill would promote teaching creationism in public schools and said some teachers might use supplemental materials produced by fundamentalist Christian organizations.
“It’s time for Louisiana to step into the 21st century and stop trying to teach religion in public schools,†Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of the organization, said in a statement. “Laws like this are an embarrassment.â€
In essence, the bill allows science teachers to inflict their own opinions and beliefs on to students instead of teaching actual science.
Maybe I’ll start claiming to be from a more respectable state, like Mississippi. :-/