Louisiana governor signs creationist bill

[Moridin]

http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2008/LA/188_louisiana_governor_signs_creat_6_27_2008.asp

Louisiana's Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 733 (PDF) into law, 27 years after the state passed its Balance Treatment for Evolution-Science and Creation-Science Act, a law overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. Jindal's approval of the bill was buried in a press release issued on June 25, 2008, announcing 75 bills he signed in recent days. Houma Today reports (June 27, 2008) that the bill "will empower educators to pull religious beliefs into topics like evolution, cloning and global warming by introducing supplemental materials."

Bill Barrow of the New Orleans Times-Picayune broke the story on June 27, 2008, observing that "Gov. Bobby Jindal attracted national attention and strongly worded advice about how he should deal with the Louisiana Science Education Act," and that he "ignored those calling for a veto and this week signed the law that will allow local school boards to approve supplemental materials for public school science classes as they discuss evolution, cloning and global warming." While Jindal did not return media calls for comment, Barrow reports that "Jindal issued a brief statement that read in part: 'I will continue to consistently support the ability of school boards and BESE to make the best decisions to ensure a quality education for our children.'"

[...]

Bill opponents say that they are ready to take action should such problems arise. "We're known for suing school boards when we need to do so and we won't shy away from doing that if that's what we need to do this case," the ACLU's Esman told WWL-TV. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State took a firm stance in a press release (June 27, 2008): "Let me state clearly and upfront that any attempts to use this law to sneak religion into public schools through the back door will not be tolerated. … I call on all concerned residents of Louisiana to help us make sure that public schools educate, not indoctrinate."

[robertm]

NOOOOO!!! This is a sad day for the children of Louisiana... This is the direct work of the bastards at the Discovery Institute.


http://lasciencecoalition.org/
http://www.discovery.org/csc/

[Moonbear]

We should have let the southern states secede when we had the chance. :rolleyes:

[OAQfirst]

Now do we get an excuse to sneak science into bible studies?

[robertm]

This really scares me. It's the 21st century for Darwin's sake! This kind of direct violation of science, morality, progress, and not to mention the freakin' Constitution should never be allowed by any responsible adult, religious or not.

Christopher Hitchens has a good idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q62Q7GdTC74&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bYYO4phrI0&feature=related

If you want to skip to the relevant point (though I would recommend the whole talk), it's starts at the 8:15 mark in the first clip, and ends at the 1:32 mark in the second clip.

[Hurkyl]

It's now legal in Louisiana for teachers to use materials other than the standard textbook in their classes? And teachers are now permitted to teach students how to analyze and critique things in an objective fashion? My gosh, what's the world coming to?

[Ki Man]

...ignored those calling for a veto and this week signed the law that will allow local school boards to approve supplemental materials for public school science classes as they discuss evolution, cloning and global warming.

It seems as though this is going beyond just evolution in attacking science. The first two are religious but the last one has to be political, (unless there is a bible verse I'm unaware of that states "and then the Lord set the Earth's thermostat and decided to keep it there.")

Politicians really should not be allowed to act on their own in deciding science policies (unless they have a scientific degree.)

[robertm]

It's now legal in Louisiana for teachers to use materials other than the standard textbook in their classes? And teachers are now permitted to teach students how to analyze and critique things in an objective fashion? My gosh, what's the world coming to?

Their is NOTHING objective about scripture based psuedo-science.

That is what the proponents of Intelligent Design and the christian bible say. Do you think there is validity to ID? Do you not think that a theory completely based on scripture should be kept out of PUBLIC Government funded schools?

What other theories could possible be taught besides ID? This was a back-door underhanded cheap shot by the Discovery Institute to introduce the ability to have creationism taught to the children of a nation who's highest law demands the separation of church and state.

It is a disgust to science and the first step down a slippery slope.

[NeoDevin]

I would recommend all parents in the areas affected keep an eye on what the biology teachers are using as alternative materials, and begin a lawsuit if there appears to be ANY creationist bias.

[Moonbear]

I would recommend all parents in the areas affected keep an eye on what the biology teachers are using as alternative materials, and begin a lawsuit if there appears to be ANY creationist bias.

Yes, the law allows such abuse of it to be challenged. Unfortunately, it is written in a way that opens the door for the damage to be done before the challenge is made. :frown:

My earlier joke aside, there is a good side to this one. When textbooks are inadequate to address the questions raised by students, or when a teacher may find other materials that can enhance a lesson, they are able to bring in those materials and use them without being restricted to teaching only from a textbook that may inadequately cover the topic (for all I know, this legislations could be initiated by someone who thought the textbooks approved by the local school board were dreadfully inadequate in covering those topics...for example, if a school board can't promote creationism, they just might instead approve crappy textbooks that don't cover the topic of evolution adequately at all, so kids remain sufficiently gullible).

[robertm]

My earlier joke aside, there is a good side to this one. When textbooks are inadequate to address the questions raised by students, or when a teacher may find other materials that can enhance a lesson, they are able to bring in those materials and use them without being restricted to teaching only from a textbook that may inadequately cover the topic (for all I know, this legislations could be initiated by someone who thought the textbooks approved by the local school board were dreadfully inadequate in covering those topics...for example, if a school board can't promote creationism, they just might instead approve crappy textbooks that don't cover the topic of evolution adequately at all, so kids remain sufficiently gullible).

True, that would be great if it was the goal. However, teachers have always had the ability to educate themselves with outside material to better inform inquisitive students. Not to mention giving references for outside of class.

It is clear that this bill was not put forth to allow enhanced science education, though it could be used as such. I repeat, a main proponent of the bill: The Discovery Institute. The same organization who built the Creation Museum in Kentucky, where they brain wash masses of children every day: http://www.creationmuseum.org/about

[OAQfirst]

...When textbooks are inadequate to address the questions raised by students, or when a teacher may find other materials that can enhance a lesson, they are able to bring in those materials and use them without being restricted to teaching only from a textbook that may inadequately cover the topic...

Was that actually a problem? One that drove the bill forward?

[robertm]

Anyway, see for yourself:

A good history of the bill:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/6/26/18920/8497

A great release by the Louisiana Coalition for Science:
http://lasciencecoalition.org/docs/Release_LFCS_NYT_Jindal_6.22.08.pdf

[NeoDevin]

I guess at this point we're depending on the science/biology teachers themselves to point to appropriate supplementary materials.

Hopefully by the time my son gets to high school (quite a while to go before that) this whole thing will be a non-issue. If not, I will personally make sure he gets a proper high school level education about evolutionary biology.

[robertm]

Hopefully by the time my son gets to high school (quite a while to go before that) this whole thing will be a non-issue. If not, I will personally make sure he gets a proper high school level education about evolutionary biology.

Good for you! :approve:

[lisab]

Now do we get an excuse to sneak science into bible studies?

Great idea! I'm an atheist secular humanist...can I teach Sunday School now :wink: ?

[NeoDevin]

Now do we get an excuse to sneak science into bible studies?

That's actually not a half bad idea. Perhaps all the atheists should do our best to get hired as sunday school, bible study, and/or religion class teachers. Then, once we're in place, we don't even have to teach any controversy or bring in outside materials.

Just make sure every class you go over at least two bible verses. Pick ones which contradict each other.

[robertm]

Just make sure every class you go over at least two bible verses. Pick ones which contradict each other.

That would be the easiest job ever! :rofl:

[WarPhalange]

"Here we have 'God is Love' and here we have the story of God letting Satan test Job's faith. You see, it's not contradictory, because God LOVES to see people's family's get torn apart -- literally."

[Moonbear]

I guess at this point we're depending on the science/biology teachers themselves to point to appropriate supplementary materials.

Hopefully by the time my son gets to high school (quite a while to go before that) this whole thing will be a non-issue. If not, I will personally make sure he gets a proper high school level education about evolutionary biology.

You can always send him and any of his interested classmates to the biology forum here. We'll make sure he's taken care of with those lessons. :approve:


That's actually not a half bad idea. Perhaps all the atheists should do our best to get hired as sunday school, bible study, and/or religion class teachers. Then, once we're in place, we don't even have to teach any controversy or bring in outside materials.

Just make sure every class you go over at least two bible verses. Pick ones which contradict each other.

Sometimes even the well-meaning ones do it accidentally. :biggrin: I remember a Sunday school lesson when I was in 6th grade. The Sunday school teacher talked the entire class session about euthanasia. We all walked out discussing how that really does seem like a humane thing to do for someone with a terminal illness. Only years later did I find out the official church position is AGAINST euthanasia. :uhh: I guess that's what the lesson was supposed to be about, but that sure wasn't what we all walked out thinking was right. :rofl:

[Moridin]

It's now legal in Louisiana for teachers to use materials other than the standard textbook in their classes? And teachers are now permitted to teach students how to analyze and critique things in an objective fashion? My gosh, what's the world coming to?

Teachers are already doing that. "Teach the strengths and weaknesses" or "Academic freedom" is just the new code terms for creationism. The have changed it since Dover. Why focus specially on evolution? Why not organic chemistry? It is simply a pretense to bring in creationist material. Do you think that phlogiston material should also be introduced in chemistry to teach children how to analyze and critique the atomic theory in an "objective fashion"? Why is creationism skipping the mainstream method of getting things into textbooks and using legal methods instead of research and peer-review?

Should James Anderson's transreal numbers be taught in math class to critically analyze number theory?

[robertm]

Sometimes even the well-meaning ones do it accidentally. :biggrin: I remember a Sunday school lesson when I was in 6th grade. The Sunday school teacher talked the entire class session about euthanasia. We all walked out discussing how that really does seem like a humane thing to do for someone with a terminal illness. Only years later did I find out the official church position is AGAINST euthanasia. :uhh: I guess that's what the lesson was supposed to be about, but that sure wasn't what we all walked out thinking was right. :rofl:

Haha! Good story! I remember getting kicked out of Sunday school when I was about 7-8 for refusing to believe that any human being could survive being swallowed by a whale! They were so mad at me, so I just went in played in the grass for the rest of the afternoon. That's one of my fondest childhood memories! :rolleyes:

[Hurkyl]

Their is NOTHING objective about scripture based psuedo-science.
Have you read the text of senate bill 733? If not, you really should.

Teachers are already doing that.
Good -- then the signing of senate bill 733 into law changes absolutely nothing. So why the complaints?

[Gokul43201]

About LA Governor, Bobby Jindal...The crucifix had a calming effect on Susan, and her sister was soon brave enough to bring a Bible to her face. At first, Susan responded to biblical passages with curses and profanities. Mixed in with her vile attacks were short and desperate pleas for help. In the same breath that she attacked Christ, the Bible's authenticity, and everyone assembled in prayer, Susan would suddenly urge us to rescue her. It appeared as if we were observing a tremendous battle between the Susan we knew and loved and some strange evil force. But the momentum had shifted and we now sensed that victory was at hand.

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/06/jindals_exorcism.html

Incidentally, the way the bill is written there are really no good grounds for rejecting it (in my opinion). But sooner, rather than later, I expect it will be abused enough to produce at least one high profile lawsuit...probably soon after schools start, sometime in September/October (that's just before November, by the way).

[jostpuur]

Good -- then the signing of senate bill 733 into law changes absolutely nothing. So why the complaints?

I'm not believing this easily. Bills are not made for fun. Surely it changes something?

Judging by other posts, it seems that it is a careful attempt to make creationism one step closer to schools, because too big step towards that goal would be stroke down immediately.

[Moridin]

Have you read the text of senate bill 733? If not, you really should.


Good -- then the signing of senate bill 733 into law changes absolutely nothing. So why the complaints?

Because it is an excuse to bring creationist material into the class room.

[Hurkyl]

Because it is an excuse to bring creationist material into the class room.
It seems uncharacteristic of you to consider creationist materials helpful in understanding, analyzing, critiquing, and reviewing scientific theories in an objective manner....

[Moridin]

It seems uncharacteristic of you to consider creationist materials helpful in understanding, analyzing, critiquing, and reviewing scientific theories in an objective manner....

To me: yes. To creationist politicians and members of school boards: not so much.

[Hurkyl]

To me: yes. To creationist politicians and members of school boards: not so much.
In other words... there is absolutely nothing wrong with senate bill 733?

[jostpuur]

In other words... there is absolutely nothing wrong with senate bill 733?

Those other words have other meaning too.

[robertm]

In other words... there is absolutely nothing wrong with senate bill 733?

Did you read the bill? The bill is useless for anything except ID propaganda. The bill was designed by the Discovery Institute. The same exact organization that tried this crap in Dover Pennsylvania in 2005. That bill was shot down as creationism legislation. So they took a different approach, changed creationism to Intelligent Design and made it in the name of 'academic freedom' instead of god.

The bill is useless if it is only meant for what they say it is. So why did it pass?

You think it is coincidence that Gov. Jindal supports Creationism, the Dis.Inst. is one of the bill's main proponents, and the LA Family Forum (a christian organization) is the other main proponent? I think not.

[Hurkyl]

Did you read the bill? The bill is useless for anything except ID propaganda.
So... you're saying that ID propaganda falls under the category of "instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner"? And you further assert that any other sorts of materials (e.g. scientific textbooks) do not fall under that category?

Again, that seems very uncharacteristic of you....

[jostpuur]

Moridin and robertm are saying that creationists are saying that ID falls under the category of "instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner".

[TheStatutoryApe]

Moridin and robertm are saying that creationists are saying that ID falls under the category of "instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner".

I'm sure that there are all sorts of laws and systems in place in various states that could potentially allow what ever group of crackpots you want to mention to try to get their material in schools. If they're going to try, and the people who are in charge are going to allow it, then there really isn't much you can do about it whether this bill exists or not.
The point is that the actual content of the bill is not at all biased and so there is really no sound reason to argue against it except to invoke paranoia (keeping in mind that paranoia doesn't mean one is wrong). If the system works the way it should then there is nothing to worry about. If it doesn't they can and will get their pants sued off and nothing in the bill will save them.

[Moridin]

Moridin and robertm are saying that creationists are saying that ID falls under the category of "instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner".

No, we are saying that it is a well-made excuse in order to bring in creationist material, not that ID is instructional materials that help students.

[Moridin]

Analysis of Lousiana "Academic Freedom" bill - http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2008/06/analysis-of-lou.html

[jostpuur]

Moridin and robertm are saying that creationists are saying that ID falls under the category of "instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner".
No, we are saying that it is a well-made excuse in order to bring in creationist material, not that ID is instructional materials that help students.

Sorry if you got a feel of getting words put into your mouths, but I don't think I was making a big mistake in that post anyway. Looks like misunderstanding, actually. Did you notice the bold part? The context was this:

It seems uncharacteristic of you to consider creationist materials helpful in understanding, analyzing, critiquing, and reviewing scientific theories in an objective manner....

So... you're saying that ID propaganda falls under the category of "instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner"? And you further assert that any other sorts of materials (e.g. scientific textbooks) do not fall under that category?

Again, that seems very uncharacteristic of you....

[loseyourname]

Well, that's too bad. I know a lot of people had hope that Bobby Jindal would become a national rising star in the Republican Party. If this is really a bill to allow teachers to teach creationism (I didn't read it), then he's pretty much relegated himself to never being more than regionally relevant.

[robertm]

This kind of professional crap they use to fool so many people: http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/filesDB-download.php?command=download&id=1453

[Gokul43201]

Well, that's too bad. I know a lot of people had hope that Bobby Jindal would become a national rising star in the Republican Party. They must not have known about his Evangelical, pro-ID background.

When I read the language of this bill, I was struck by two things:

First, it seems the framers can't give a hoot about critical thinking and analytical abilities in subjects other than science.

And second, compare this with a hypothetical Respect the Children Bill that requires all people, specifically including registered pedophiles, to show love, care and respect for all children they come near. Who going to argue that it is a good thing for people to be hateful, careless or disrespectful towards children?

[vociferous]

Was this signed before or after the bill that legally required pi to equal 3?

[csguy]

Was this signed before or after the bill that legally required pi to equal 3?

It depends on how a cubit is interpreted.

[island]

TheStatutoryApe is exactly correct. Paranoia will destroy ya, but the wording of the bill, which typically works in conjunction with the science standards, will keep creationism out of the classroom, or there will be an enforcible violation of their own law. The clueless neodarwinian antifanatics are finally going to get put on the spot, and this is what they really don't want to face:

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=f4af536be6e34501aa356a4a76ef99cf&plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=f4af536be6e34501aa356a4a76ef99cf

[RocketSurgery]

Wow these Xtians are really trying to bring down the Scientific Age and bring us back into the Dark Ages.

If you don't want to believe in science then you should not be able to use equipment or tools invented by scientists or engineers (like computers).

[Hurkyl]

Wow these Xtians are really trying to bring down the Scientific Age and bring us back into the Dark Ages.
Yes, heaven forbid we teach our students critical thinking skills. :rolleyes:

If you don't want to believe in science
Who said anything like that? (I mean other than the conspiracy theorists)

[Gokul43201]

Who said anything like that? (I mean other than the conspiracy theorists)When you say "conspiracy theorists", does that include young earth creationists? I only ask because Ben Nevers admittedly (http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/17179166.html) introduced this bill on behalf of the Louisiana Family Forum, which is a tax exempt Christian lobby that promotes young earth creationism.

[RocketSurgery]

I'm sorry if my comment seemed to be pulled out of thin air but I keep hearing about these creationists and other extremists who either claim that science has no merit, that science is evil, or think that having an "idea" is the same thing as having an experimentally tested theory. To be clear (now that i'm no longer intoxicated by anger) I don't think religion or faith is necessarily bad. The problem seems to arrive when people confuse "belief" and "knowledge". If you believe in God then that is fine. But if you think you have actually seen him and know his message that is when you have crossed the sanity barrier.

Basically I have a problem with any group of people who feigns scientific credibility, claims science is evil, or claims that a theory is "just a theory with no facts", But they have no problem using the internet, or driving cars, or using microphones at their little speeches. Like someone said, "I have no problem with people who are stupid... We should educate them... It's the ignorant people I have an issue with... They are stupid on purpose!"

I can only hope that education will always be a priority in this country.

[vincentm]

Yes, heaven forbid we teach our students critical thinking skills. :rolleyes:



There's no critical thinking about ID, it's a lack of thinking.

[Hurkyl]

There's no critical thinking about ID, it's a lack of thinking.
I wasn't talking about ID. I was talking about Louisiana Senate Bill #733 -- the thing everybody is complaining about.

P.S. ID is an abbreviation for "intelligent design" -- not for "lack of thinking".

[robertm]

I wasn't talking about ID. I was talking about Louisiana Senate Bill #733 -- the thing everybody is complaining about.

P.S. ID is an abbreviation for "intelligent design" -- not for "lack of thinking".

If this bill really is just for teaching critical thinking skills, then how do you explain the fact that the only proponents of the bill are the LFF and the Discovery Institute? Not one single respected scientific society gave their support, and a great deal of societies personally wrote the Gov. expressing their dissent. Need I remind you that the D.I. came up with the term 'Intelligent Design'?

[WarPhalange]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-tk7MkHKtI

[robertm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-tk7MkHKtI

Haha. Ouch, caught in the act.

[vincentm]

I wasn't talking about ID. I was talking about Louisiana Senate Bill #733 -- the thing everybody is complaining about.

P.S. ID is an abbreviation for "intelligent design" -- not for "lack of thinking".

Just like ID itself the bill is a wedge argument to have ID taught...thus, same difference.

[Hurkyl]

If this bill really is just for teaching critical thinking skills, then how do you explain the fact that the only proponents of the bill are the LFF and the Discovery Institute?
Fallacy: guilt by association. You are trying to discredit the bill not upon its own merits, but upon your opinion of its proponents.

Not one single respected scientific society gave their support, and a great deal of societies personally wrote the Gov. expressing their dissent.
I only see the following possibilities:
(1) A great deal of societies are against the idea we should teach critical thinking skills to students
(2) A great deal of societies are having a knee-jerk reaction, opposing a good ideal simply to spite a group they dislike
(3) You should have no trouble cribbing their letters to form an argument supporting your position that is free of obvious fallacies.
(4) You don't understand precisely what they are dissenting against.

[Hurkyl]

Just like ID itself the bill is a wedge argument to have ID taught...thus, same difference.
If you believe that ID constitutes instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, I don't really understand why you are objecting to the bill.

[vincentm]

If you believe that ID constitutes instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, I don't really understand why you are objecting to the bill.

ID is a poor argument, and intellectual laziness, nothing analytical about it.

[Hurkyl]

ID is a poor argument, and intellectual laziness, nothing analytical about it.
So if you believe that ID does not constitute instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, I don't really understand why you think this bill allows it.


(Incidentally, and this is tangential to the thread so I will say it once and probably not continue discussing it -- the fact that some adherents to ID are lazy, non-analytical, and poor arguments does not constitute proof that ID itself has those qualities. If such an argument were valid, it would also apply to scientific theories)

[vincentm]

So if you believe that ID does not constitute instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, I don't really understand why you think this bill allows it.

In which manner can ID successfully and logically provide sound criticism of well established, understood, experimentally sound theories, such as Evolution, let alone Biology itself?


(Incidentally, and this is tangential to the thread so I will say it once and probably not continue discussing it -- the fact that some adherents to ID are lazy, non-analytical, and poor arguments does not constitute proof that ID itself has those qualities. If such an argument were valid, it would also apply to scientific theories)

Please list the qualities of ID then.

[Hurkyl]

In which manner can ID successfully and logically provide sound criticism of well established, understood, experimentally sound theories, such as Evolution, let alone Biology itself?
You earlier claimed that LA Senate Bill #733 allowed the teaching of ID; that would imply you already had a positive answer to the question you ask in this quote. So why do you ask?

[NeoDevin]

You earlier claimed that LA Senate Bill #733 allowed the teaching of ID; that would imply you already had a positive answer to the question you ask in this quote. So why do you ask?

It doesn't directly allow it (according to the wording of the bill), but the ID proponents will attempt to use it to include creationist materials in the classrooms. Whether they're successful or not depends on the parents/courts/judges.

[robertm]

Fallacy: guilt by association. You are trying to discredit the bill not upon its own merits, but upon your opinion of its proponents.

It is not merely an association, refer to my earlier links.

I only see the following possibilities:
(1) A great deal of societies are against the idea we should teach critical thinking skills to students
(2) A great deal of societies are having a knee-jerk reaction, opposing a good ideal simply to spite a group they dislike
(3) You should have no trouble cribbing their letters to form an argument supporting your position that is free of obvious fallacies.
(4) You don't understand precisely what they are dissenting against.

1) I think you'll agree this is unlikely.
2)Most of the societies did not submit letters until much later in the game, not knee-jerk by any means. I can not speak for the others, but I would have opposed this bill just as much regardless of were it originated or who supported it.
3) Not sure what you mean here...
4) http://lasciencecoalition.org/docs/AIBS_et_al_Jindal_veto_6.13.08.pdf, http://lasciencecoalition.org/docs/AAAS_Jindal_veto_6.20.08.pdf Hmmm... Sounds pretty straight forward to me... I could have misread though... Notice these people are no small fries in the scientific community.

You seem to have completely missed all my earlier posts. You really think that good will come out of this bill? There is no use for it unless it is applied to teach creation science.

Again, why would the bill only apply to historically religious and political arguments in science (evolution, stem cell research, cloning ect..) if it's goal was to promote critical thinking skills? Why ignore controversies in other subjects, and other real controversies in science?

A main point of yours (correct me if i am wrong) is that the bill specifically states:

"D. This Section shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine,
13 promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or
14 promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion."

So there should not be an issue, right? However, what supplement arguments are there for the stated 'controversies' of: evolution, the origins of life, human cloning and others not stated by the bill? Scientific ones?

Besides the possibility of differing theories of abiogenisis (which I highly doubt Mr. Nevers, a deacon at his local church, would support) I see no other Scientific controversies to teach that would not already be included in the standard text books.

By the language of this bill, teachers could legally say, "Well kids, modern science has no explanation for this phenomenon, but this nice booklet (http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/filesDB-download.php?command=download&id=1453) by the great 'scientist' at the D.I. has some very promising ideas."
That is not scientific. It is very clever indoctrination technique.

How can you be so naive to actually believe that this bill is a good thing? Actually, what is your opinion? Do you like the bill, or do you just think it isn't a big deal? Maybe it is not a huge deal, but is definitely a step backwards down a dangerous path of illogic.

[Hurkyl]

A main point of yours (correct me if i am wrong) is that the bill specifically states:
That is incorrect. The points I am making are entirely derived from subsections B and C. (I haven't noticed anyone say anything relevant to point D)

Section B instructs the state school board to allow teachers and schools to create an environment that promotes:
critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories
Additionally, section B instructs the school board to assist teachers in doing so, and explicitly specifies some forms of assistance that will be provided.

Section C instructs teachers that they shall first teach from the standard school textbook, and then may subsequently introduce
other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner
insofar as it's permitted by the city/parish/local school board.


My point is briefly summarized as pointing out the fact the following two hypotheses are obviously contradictory:
(1) This bill allows the teaching of ID
(2) Teaching ID is not an example of teaching critical thinking, objective discussion, or whatever.

However, for some mystifying reason, people have repeatedly asserted these two hypotheses over and over in this thread.

[vincentm]

My point is briefly summarized as pointing out the fact the following two hypotheses are obviously contradictory:
(1) This bill allows the teaching of ID
(2) Teaching ID is not an example of teaching critical thinking, objective discussion, or whatever.

However, for some mystifying reason, people have repeatedly asserted these two hypotheses over and over in this thread.

What are the students going to be taught in analytically criticizing Evolution? If this isn't about Intelligent Design being taught, why is the Discovery institute ( major proponent of Intelligent Design and loser of the Dover vs Kitzmiller trial) supporting this?

[robertm]

That is incorrect. The points I am making are entirely derived from subsections B and C. (I haven't noticed anyone say anything relevant to point D)

Section B instructs the state school board to allow teachers and schools to create an environment that promotes:
critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories
Additionally, section B instructs the school board to assist teachers in doing so, and explicitly specifies some forms of assistance that will be provided.

Section C instructs teachers that they shall first teach from the standard school textbook, and then may subsequently introduce
other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner
insofar as it's permitted by the city/parish/local school board.


My point is briefly summarized as pointing out the fact the following two hypotheses are obviously contradictory:
(1) This bill allows the teaching of ID
(2) Teaching ID is not an example of teaching critical thinking, objective discussion, or whatever.

However, for some mystifying reason, people have repeatedly asserted these two hypotheses over and over in this thread.

You continue to ignore many of my points.

The argument is contradictory if you hold that ID is indeed a real viable scientific theory, however, none who have made that argument have ever given ID that distinction. Since so many are convinced that ID is viable (the Discovery Institute, the Louisiana Family Forum, virtually every religious organization, good ole' Louisiana boys, ect) the potential supplementing of science materials in public classrooms with ID propaganda is not considered to be a threat nor to be unlawful.

I challenge you to give one single example of a current controversy in the stated scientific subjects that is:
A) Rigorously being discussed and tested in main stream respected scientific communities; and
B) Is viable and important enough to be included in the curriculum of K-12 Louisiana public schools.

Once again, I am astounded to see that you can actually believe that this bill is necessary to ensure the stated purpose of creating an environment that promotes:
critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories

Schools already do that just fine!!! There is no reason for this bill to exist, until you include the goal of introducing religious creationism wrapped in a shiny new terminology: Intelligent Design.

[TheStatutoryApe]

Schools already do that just fine!!! There is no reason for this bill to exist, until you include the goal of introducing religious creationism wrapped in a shiny new terminology: Intelligent Design.

Are you sure they do that just fine? Have you attended school in Louisiana lately?
Don't you think that maybe so many people think ID is a viable alternative to evolution because they don't really understand evolution? And maybe if they were to be made to really think about it they might actually see the sense in it and the lack of sense in ID? Just maybe?

It also allows teachers to bring in outside material to help study these subjects as long as the material is acceptable. And so maybe material supporting ID will be shot down as unacceptable. And maybe the they will be able to bring in material that helps shed more light on the issue and clear it up in the minds of the students.

So just maybe the schools don't do a very good job which leads to so many people believing in unscientific claims and perhaps this bill will help fix that regardless of whom ever it is that is supporting it and wanting it passed.

In the mean time the extreme reactions of people against the bill, which are down right insulting to anyone who sincerely believes that ID might be right, is not endearing them to anyone. Getting on an intellectual highhorse is not going to persuade any of those people who need to be persuaded. If they really wanted to help people they would stop being such prigs.

[Gokul43201]

Are you sure they do that just fine? Have you attended school in Louisiana lately?
Don't you think that maybe so many people think ID is a viable alternative to evolution because they don't really understand evolution? And maybe if they were to be made to really think about it they might actually see the sense in it and the lack of sense in ID? Just maybe?

It also allows teachers to bring in outside material to help study these subjects as long as the material is acceptable. And so maybe material supporting ID will be shot down as unacceptable. And maybe the they will be able to bring in material that helps shed more light on the issue and clear it up in the minds of the students.

So just maybe the schools don't do a very good job which leads to so many people believing in unscientific claims and perhaps this bill will help fix that regardless of whom ever it is that is supporting it and wanting it passed.

In the mean time the extreme reactions of people against the bill, which are down right insulting to anyone who sincerely believes that ID might be right, is not endearing them to anyone. Getting on an intellectual highhorse is not going to persuade any of those people who need to be persuaded. If they really wanted to help people they would stop being such prigs.I think it finally comes down to whether or not your science teacher is a religion pusher.

For instance, you're not likely to be exposed to the real scientific debate (as opposed to the pseudoscientific excuse for a debate that is becoming all to common now), if your teacher is someone like this: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25284886/
Teacher in trouble for burning crosses on kids

A school board in central Ohio voted Friday to move ahead on firing a science teacher accused of preaching his Christian beliefs in class and using a device to burn the image of a cross on students' arms.
...
Freshwater's friend Dave Daubenmire defended him.

"With the exception of the cross-burning episode ... I believe John Freshwater is teaching the values of the parents in the Mount Vernon school district," he told The Columbus Dispatch for a story published Friday.

Several students interviewed by investigators described Freshwater, who has been employed by the district for 21 years, as a great guy.
...
Other findings show that Freshwater taught that carbon dating was unreliable to argue against evolution. So, the kids really need to be better informed than their science teachers, in order to prevent abuse disguised as "critical thinking".

Think critically folks! How Carbon dating be right when it tells us that some rocks are - Heaven forbid - millions of years old?

[NeoDevin]

So, the kids really need to be better informed than their science teachers, in order to prevent abuse disguised as "critical thinking".

I would say the responsibility lies with the parents, not the kids. Be active in your childrens' education. At the very least ask ``What did you learn in school today?'' over dinner. If your child answers something to the effect of ``Science is wrong and we're all going to hell'' (or similar, possibly less extreme statement), it's time to homeschool biology.

[robertm]

Are you sure they do that just fine? Have you attended school in Louisiana lately?
Don't you think that maybe so many people think ID is a viable alternative to evolution because they don't really understand evolution? And maybe if they were to be made to really think about it they might actually see the sense in it and the lack of sense in ID? Just maybe?

Like I said earlier, there is no viable controversy to be teaching, therefor there is no reason to introduce this bill. Their is no controversy that is absent from the classroom that needs to be in the classroom.

I have never been to school in Louisiana, but I did grow up in the 'deep south'. My experience is that the books do a good job of objectively teaching subjects, but not necessarily the teachers.

I absolutely agree that there is a widespread misunderstanding of evolution, and that could be a large cause of it's current unpopularity, however, I do not think that it is a coincidence that I have never found a single person who believes in ID, and is not religious. Conversely, I have also never found a non-religious person who is convinced of ID.

Thinking critically about evolution should already be practiced. This bill, unless in the hands of a good teacher, will not help students think about evolution any more than the standard text books already should be used to.

That is a lot of maybes, and those maybes could be true, but this bill does not help achieve them. Teacher's who's goal it is to help students critically understand the principle's of evolution do not need this bill to do that, only the one's who's goal it is to falsely criticize evolution need this bill.

It also allows teachers to bring in outside material to help study these subjects as long as the material is acceptable. And so maybe material supporting ID will be shot down as unacceptable. And maybe the they will be able to bring in material that helps shed more light on the issue and clear it up in the minds of the students.

That could very well happen, in the hands of quality educators. But do you trust the Louisiana school board enough to believe that they will shoot ID down? Had my hillbilly backwater teachers of the 12 different southern schools I attended in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina had the chance they would have loved to caste a shadow of doubt in the minds of their students as to the viability of evolution. I can only think of two science teacher that I had (out of about 15) that would have objectively shown evolution as a very well evidenced theory.

I know that is just an anecdotal experience, but the chances are pretty good that this is the case throughout the bible belt.

So just maybe the schools don't do a very good job which leads to so many people believing in unscientific claims and perhaps this bill will help fix that regardless of whom ever it is that is supporting it and wanting it passed.

The fault lies with the educators and with the parents. Adding different material will not produce more effective teachers. Nor will it stop the religious social stigma against evolution that young scientist have to deal with in their own homes.

If this bill backfires in the face of the DI, that would be fantastic. It is definitely a possible scenario, just I think highly unlikely. Even if it wasn't unlikely though, I would still oppose the bill on legal terms.

In the mean time the extreme reactions of people against the bill, which are down right insulting to anyone who sincerely believes that ID might be right, is not endearing them to anyone. Getting on an intellectual highhorse is not going to persuade any of those people who need to be persuaded. If they really wanted to help people they would stop being such prigs.

I don't know about any extreme reactions, but if my emphatic denial of a crackpot theory offends anyone I frankly am not going to lose any sleep over it. The supporters of ID need to open their eyes and stop the religious bias. I don't think asking nicely is going to get the DI to close down their multimillion dollar creationism museum. There needs to be a systematic unwavering denial of the ridiculous nonsense peddled by these sadly mislead people. This is no high horse, the supporters of ID are trying to bully and shortcut their way into the scientific world by skipping the qualifications and ruthless peer-review that every other scientific theory must endure.

I hope I have not come across as a pig, if I have I do apologize; and I can agree with you on that point. There is no need to be extreme, just very firm.

[Hurkyl]

The argument is contradictory if you hold that ID is indeed a real viable scientific theory,
It's also contradictory if you hold that ID is not a real viable scientific theory.

The only thing this bill allows a teacher to do is to
create and foster an environment ... that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories ...

Therefore, a trivial logical consequence of the assertion "this bill allows the teaching of ID" is that teaching ID promotes one or more of critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories.

If you do not believe that teaching ID promotes one or more of critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories, then your only option is to adopt the hypothesis "the teaching of ID is not allowed by this bill". Otherwise, you are being self-contradictory.


You continue to ignore many of my points.
Because they are irrelevant to the point I am trying to make. Many of the complains in this thread are, at the very least, severely misguided, since they boil down to the simultaneous assertion that the bill allows certain activities, and those activities are directly opposed to that which the bill allows.


I challenge you to give one single example of a current controversy in the stated scientific subjects that is:
I choose to decline your double fallacy of red herring and shifting the burden of proof.

[robertm]

It's also contradictory if you hold that ID is not a real viable scientific theory.

The only thing this bill allows a teacher to do is to
create and foster an environment ... that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories ...

Therefore, a trivial logical consequence of the assertion "this bill allows the teaching of ID" is that teaching ID promotes one or more of critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories.

If you do not believe that teaching ID promotes one or more of critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories, then your only option is to adopt the hypothesis "the teaching of ID is not allowed by this bill". Otherwise, you are being self-contradictory.

The bill allows a teacher to create and foster an environment that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories. If the school board agrees with a teacher that ID fosters that kind of environment, then ID will be allowed in the classroom. Just because I disagree with such an assertion does not mean that I am committing a logical fallacy, it means that one of us (me, or the school board) is profoundly mistaken about the viability of that certain theory.

Many people believe that ID can and will promote the objectives of this bill, I happen to disagree.

Because they are irrelevant to the point I am trying to make. Many of the complains in this thread are, at the very least, severely misguided, since they boil down to the simultaneous assertion that the bill allows certain activities, and those activities are directly opposed to that which the bill allows.

It seems you misunderstand the point. The assertion is that:

This bill (in the hands of ID supporters and/or the religious majority of the state of Louisiana) allows certain activities that are directly opposed to those which the bill should logical and objectively be allowing do to the potential bias of the enforcers of the legislation.

I choose to decline your double fallacy of red herring and shifting the burden of proof.

It is your mistake if you think that the lack of need for legislation of this sort is beside the point. Does Occam's Razor not apply to legislation?

The bill makes the assertion that there are additional controversies that need to be taught in public schools. So how is my asking for proof of that assertion a shift of the burden of proof?

[Evo]

I would say the responsibility lies with the parents, not the kids. Be active in your childrens' education. At the very least ask ``What did you learn in school today?'' over dinner. If your child answers something to the effect of ``Science is wrong and we're all going to hell'' (or similar, possibly less extreme statement), it's time to homeschool biology.The problem is that the parents, in a lot of cases, are too ignorant or believers themselves in unscientific claims and the school should be teaching real science, not religious dogma. You don't think this bill passed against the wishes of the majority of voters in that state, do you? Who do you think elected that guy?

[NeoDevin]

The problem is that the parents, in a lot of cases, are too ignorant or believers themselves in unscientific claims and the school should be teaching real science, not religious dogma. You don't think this bill passed against the wishes of the majority of voters in that state, do you? Who do you think elected that guy?

In the end, we each need to look out for our own. All it takes is one parent to pay attention and object to unscientific claims being taught in the classroom for it to go to court. The children (most of them anyways) are certainly too ignorant to tell the difference.

My point was, that this bill has passed and it's wording does not allow for unscientific claims. Certain teachers/groups will (almost certainly) try to use it to include unscientific claims in the classroom. The resposibility now must lie with the parents (at least, the less ignorant ones) to pay attention and make an issue as soon as this happens.

[Hurkyl]

If the school board agrees with a teacher that ID fosters that kind of environment, then ID will be allowed in the classroom.
The school board might allow it -- but on the assumption that your assessment of ID is correct, LA Senate bill #733 does not serve as a legal basis for that allowance.


It seems you misunderstand the point. The assertion is that:

This bill (in the hands of ID supporters and/or the religious majority of the state of Louisiana) allows certain activities that are directly opposed to those which the bill should logical and objectively be allowing do to the potential bias of the enforcers of the legislation.
And that assertion is patently false: the bill cannot allow something it does not allow.


It is your mistake if you think that the lack of need for legislation of this sort is beside the point. Does Occam's Razor not apply to legislation?
Isn't the usual point of view on bureaucracies that Occam's Razor most certainly doesn't apply to them? :biggrin: On a more serious note, the government is forbidden from undertaking any activity that is not explicitly allowed by law -- I consider it a good thing to give the government specific permission to allow such activities, rather than relying on the ability lawyers to justify it through interpretation of other laws.

(Again assuming your assessment of ID is correct) And anyways, if we go by your assertion that this bill really is superfluous -- schools and teachers are already allowed to undertake such activities -- then this bill doesn't open up any new pretenses for teaching ID anyways.

[LowlyPion]

OK there's lots of $.02 lying about on this. Here's mine.
It strikes me that the nominal reason for the bill is to teach "critical thinking" skills as it would relate to Science - the nominal syllabus.

But what kind of critical thinking does it foster, if the adults cast aside their own critical thinking skills in order to introduce material on Intelligent Design, if the ultimate basis for this "alternative" relies, not on any apparent scientific evidence, but instead looks like a "faith" based attempt to normalize Science with religious belief by forcing the teaching of the Science of it all to change?

Is this the proper example that adults should be teaching children?

Wouldn't such hypocrisy, masquerading as this stated desire to teach "critical thinking", better be studied within the context of some other non-Science subject?

Merely because a democratic majority of those in the districts happen to "want to believe" Intelligent Design simply isn't sufficient to make it an "alternative scientific theory", so much as it is necessarily an article of Faith, and as such makes its support in the guise of Science Constitutionally proscribed as an inappropriate interference of Religion in government/publicly supported activities.

No one is stopping the teaching of such things in Sunday school or private schools, if they want to send their children to venues appropriate to their religious beliefs after all.

[robertm]

The school board might allow it -- but on the assumption that your assessment of ID is correct, LA Senate bill #733 does not serve as a legal basis for that allowance.

My assessment differs greatly from the majority of those in charge in Louisiana. As long as the material remains what they define as religiously neutral, then #733 would serve as a legal basis.

Notice at no point in the bill does it specifically disallow ID. Nor does it define any parameters for what constitutes supporting religious doctrine. Why not include more specific language if the goal really is entirely secular??

If you skimmed the DI supplement booklet that I posted, it should seem apparent that the point of changing creationism into intelligent design is to make it appear religiously neutral. It would be quite easy to come up with some documents that 'indirectly' invoke religiosity so as to stay within the bills constraints and still get the false message across.

And that assertion is patently false: the bill cannot allow something it does not allow.

It depends on the frame of reference. If ID material was introduced, then I would say it violates the constraints of the bill, however, many could argue conversely. Like I said, it depends on your definition of ID and/or what constitutes religious teaching.

Isn't the usual point of view on bureaucracies that Occam's Razor most certainly doesn't apply to them? :biggrin: On a more serious note, the government is forbidden from undertaking any activity that is not explicitly allowed by law -- I consider it a good thing to give the government specific permission to allow such activities, rather than relying on the ability lawyers to justify it through interpretation of other laws.

Exactly. So does not the extremely vague language, lack of precise defining of terms/parameters bother you; the open-endedness of the thing?

(Again assuming your assessment of ID is correct) And anyways, if we go by your assertion that this bill really is superfluous -- schools and teachers are already allowed to undertake such activities -- then this bill doesn't open up any new pretenses for teaching ID anyways.

The bill is only superfluous if the goals are purely secular. It makes perfect since when you wish to invoke otherwise disallowed arguments.



On a side note, what controversy could they possibly be referring to with global warming? I used to have a chemistry teacher that vehemently denied global climate change (and still does). I can not imagine the kind of damage he could do to some of the less informed students in the class with permission to actually teach some crackpot **** on the 'global warming conspiracy'.

There is so much potential for negative impact, and very little for good...

[LowlyPion]

After reviewing prior decisions by the Supreme Court it seems inevitable to me that this 733 Law will be struck down.

Regardless of the nuances of the wording in the bill and its attempt to enable the teaching of Intelligent Design under the guise of critical thinking, I find it difficult to believe that the behavior that will manifest by its proponents in the foisting off of Intelligent Design can be seen passing the Lemon test (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_v._Kurtzman#Lemon_test) previously used by the Court to decide such separation issues.

If it walks like a duck, the Court will not likely be fooled.

[TheStatutoryApe]

I don't know about any extreme reactions, but if my emphatic denial of a crackpot theory offends anyone I frankly am not going to lose any sleep over it. The supporters of ID need to open their eyes and stop the religious bias. I don't think asking nicely is going to get the DI to close down their multimillion dollar creationism museum. There needs to be a systematic unwavering denial of the ridiculous nonsense peddled by these sadly mislead people. This is no high horse, the supporters of ID are trying to bully and shortcut their way into the scientific world by skipping the qualifications and ruthless peer-review that every other scientific theory must endure.

I hope I have not come across as a pig, if I have I do apologize; and I can agree with you on that point. There is no need to be extreme, just very firm.

I did not mean to insinuate that you were being offensive. Sorry.
It took me a while to find an actual copy of the bill and I waded through many a blog and 'call to arms' in the process. It bothers me when I think of how much more might be accomplished if there was more genuine discussion. Just because many of us see it as 'case closed' doesn't mean there aren't still people out there who don't understand and treating the issue as a non-arguement doesn't help them. If the late Pope John Paul could accept evolution and make it an official stance of the church I'm sure there's hope. But not if we're just going to tell people to get with the program.

[robertm]

I did not mean to insinuate that you were being offensive. Sorry.
It took me a while to find an actual copy of the bill and I waded through many a blog and 'call to arms' in the process. It bothers me when I think of how much more might be accomplished if there was more genuine discussion. Just because many of us see it as 'case closed' doesn't mean there aren't still people out there who don't understand and treating the issue as a non-arguement doesn't help them. If the late Pope John Paul could accept evolution and make it an official stance of the church I'm sure there's hope. But not if we're just going to tell people to get with the program.

I definitely agree, I'm always for a good solid discussion, even with my local bible-pounding rednecks(or maybe 'especially' :wink:).

It is just to bad that a majority of the people who could really benefit from a rousing discussion have already had most of their ability to think objectively forcefully pounded out of them by multiple forehead 'healings' from the local priest/society/family. I have seen so many of my peer's grow up just to realism that they had wasted their entire childhoods worrying about the horrors of hell and trying to actually follow the bible. But the ones that never came out of it are the real sorry suckers. :frown: There's one born every minuet.

[Hurkyl]

My assessment differs greatly from the majority of those in charge in Louisiana. As long as the material remains what they define as religiously neutral, then #733 would serve as a legal basis.
Hrm. In my initial reading of #733, I would have said that religious neutrality is entirely irrelevant. It boils down to the legalese meaning of the word 'promote'. I took section D to be an emphasis that this bill is not an endorsement of religion or lack thereof. You seem to be taking section D as being a restriction on what sections B and C may be applied to.

I'm used to legalese being much more direct when specifying limitations, so I prefer my interpretation of the section.


It would be quite easy to come up with some documents that 'indirectly' invoke religiosity so as to stay within the bills constraints and still get the false message across.
Setting aside our disagreement about the meaning of section D -- I would think that if the documents were used to promote logical thinking, et cetera, then it would be a good thing. It shouldn't matter if the documents were Christian, pastafarian, or even the annals of the flat earth society.



It depends on the frame of reference.
I'm pretty sure my statement was a tautology. I do not see how it is possible for the bill to simultaneously allow and not allow something. (Unless you're equivocating, in which case shame on you)


The bill is only superfluous if the goals are purely secular.
It's superfluous if we assume your conspiracy theory too. You've already claimed schools already permit logical thinking, et cetera. You've already claimed that the school board and the LA supereme court (one explicitly, one implicitly) consider ID to promote logical thinking, et cetera. Therefore, it necessarily follows that this bill does not increase the ability of teachers to introduce ID into the classroom.


It makes perfect since when you wish to invoke otherwise disallowed arguments.
No, it really doesn't.

[Hurkyl]

It is just to bad that a majority of the people who could really benefit from a rousing discussion have already had most of their ability to think objectively forcefully pounded out of them by multiple forehead 'healings' from the local priest/society/family. ...
People get propaganda from all kinds of sources, related to all kinds of topics. Don't pretend that the phenomenon is confined to the topic of religion, or delude yourself that your recollections of your meager experiences are representative of religion as a whole. Your holier-than-thou attitude regarding religion is quite ironic, and I somehow doubt you would be so offensive if you were talking about any other demographic. Quite honestly, you sound like you are a current propaganda victim yourself.

[LowlyPion]

I took section D to be an emphasis that this bill is not an endorsement of religion or lack thereof. You seem to be taking section D as being a restriction on what sections B and C may be applied to.

The way I read Section D is that it is a bald attempt of the bill to effectively say that it is not a "duck".

If it were only so easy to say it and make it so.

Sadly the very nature of the intent of the bill looks precisely like an attempt to entangle elements of religious faith with secular scientific training under this "critical thinking" construct. I think the court will find that it should not be the purview of Science to engage in "critical thinking" discussion of religious issues, no matter that a district may approve it, but rather that is something that should more correctly be left to religious or faith based instruction - which under the Establishment Clause is not permitted in publicly funded schools.

I think it is the very nature of the specifically called out areas of scientific instruction mentioned in the prior sections that should tip off the court as to the actual non-secular intent of this law. (I would say the attempt to not limit it exclusively to such areas is yet another attempt by the framers of the bill to say it is not a "duck".)

Seen as a political ploy to appeal to the religious right, Jindal of course would sign it regardless of it disposition in the courts. He can be their champion and he can blame the courts again. I'd say it's votes in the bank for him.

Come September I guess we will see if any of this nonsense makes it into any curriculum and then to the courts.

[robertm]

Setting aside our disagreement about the meaning of section D -- I would think that if the documents were used to promote logical thinking, et cetera, then it would be a good thing. It shouldn't matter if the documents were Christian, pastafarian, or even the annals of the flat earth society.

Proper education and objectively critical thinking can not coexist with any religion. It is an inherent fallacy of the system of belief. And even if that were true at all, even if religion was the greatest promoter of critical thinking know to man, mixing it with public education is unconstitutional.

I'm pretty sure my statement was a tautology. I do not see how it is possible for the bill to simultaneously allow and not allow something. (Unless you're equivocating, in which case shame on you)

Why do you deny that two people can infer different meaning from the same set of information? Tautology doesn't apply to a difference in opinion or interpretation.

It's superfluous if we assume your conspiracy theory too. You've already claimed schools already permit logical thinking, et cetera. You've already claimed that the school board and the LA supereme court (one explicitly, one implicitly) consider ID to promote logical thinking, et cetera. Therefore, it necessarily follows that this bill does not increase the ability of teachers to introduce ID into the classroom.

My argument is much more founded than to be called a conspiracy theory.

Teachers promote critical thinking using standard materials and a limited amount of additional. Intelligent Design material is not include in that small amount. Therefor teachers are technically banned from teaching about it. Now that is not to say that they can not sneak some into the classrooms, but at least there is reservation. With this bill they can promote creation science dressed up in it's sunday best to look like 'promoting critical thinking skills'. Which it inherently does not do, they are simply misguided by the prevailing religious bias.

No, it really doesn't.

Yes it really does. See above ^ .

People get propaganda from all kinds of sources, related to all kinds of topics. Don't pretend that the phenomenon is confined to the topic of religion,

What other propaganda, do tell, informs innocent children that they are born retched and if they don't behave or if they don't repent that they will burn in an eternal hell-fire that is more horrifying then anything anyone could experience while alive?

What propaganda tells children that they can not solve their own problems? Or that they would be no better than animals without the holy morality of god?

Or that the single mistake of a single human being 6,000 years ago, has damned the entire human race?

Or that they are not allowed to even think certain things!? That they could literally be convicted of thought crime! Need I go on?

Of course it is not confined to religion, I never claimed that is was not, but religion is the most prevailing form in the world. It is the loudest, the most self assured, and has historically caused the most suffering.

(note: no personal offense is meant, this what many religions actually teach in practice every day)

or delude yourself that your recollections of your meager experiences are representative of religion as a whole.

I never said anything of the sort, that is an assertion of yours, in fact I specifically stated the fact that I was not deluded so: "I know that is just an anecdotal experience, but the chances are pretty good..."

There is much more evidence than just my little anecdotes: http://religions.pewforum.org/maps

Edit: I just looked up the "Importance of Religion in Ones Life"... What do you know, Louisiana has the highest percentage of people citing "Very Important" Out of all the states in the nation.

Your holier-than-thou attitude regarding religion is quite ironic, and I somehow doubt you would be so offensive if you were talking about any other demographic.

How am I "holier-than-thou"? I believe my position is the plain fact that I emphatically do not consider myself to be 'holy' in any way.

When was I offensive? I stated that religion inherently suppresses objectivity through it's reliance on faith; the antithesis of objectivity. This is a fact, followed by a well founded opinion; not slander.

I have no personal vendetta against any particular demographic that I consider to be negative. Religion is the most prevailing, and the most assertive; therefor I find myself discussing it often. Their are many other aspects of society that I will argue against just as bluntly. Religion is simply the most popular.

Quite honestly, you sound like you are a current propaganda victim yourself.

What propaganda would that be? That of my own struggle to apply the principles of logic and reason to the world around me so as to better understand and potentially advance it for the betterment of myself and my decedents?

The propaganda of objectivity and rational? Guilty as charged.

[siddharth]

Here's an article (http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjNjYTNjMTVkNmVhMmYxN2JkMWZhMzYzMGNjNzY4ZDE=&w=MQ) by John West, who's a "senior fellow at the Discovery Institute". This part makes it clear that they will try to use this bill to push creationist propaganda.


First, the idea that a firewall exists between scientific “facts” and their implications for society is not sustainable. Facts have implications. If it really is a “fact” that the evolution of life was an unplanned process of chance and necessity (as Neo-Darwinism asserts), then that fact has consequences for how we view life. It does not lead necessarily to Richard Dawkins’s militant atheism, but it certainly makes less plausible the idea of a God who intentionally directs the development of life toward a specific end. In a Darwinian worldview, even God himself cannot know how evolution will turn out — which is why theistic evolutionist Kenneth Miller argues that human beings are a mere “happenstance” of evolutionary history, and that if evolution played over again it might produce thinking mollusks rather than us.


I do not see how teaching such a viewpoint in science classes promotes critical thinking.

[LowlyPion]

"Facts have implications."

I do not see how teaching such a viewpoint in science classes promotes critical thinking.

Exactly. I think that is quite the point. Such discussions are really inappropriate to the teaching of Science per se, when they should more rightly be instructed within the context of Philosophy or Religion. But of course teaching material founded on articles of faith is not constitutionally permitted in public education. Teaching it as Science then must simply be wrong.

I did read the article and I found that the legislature based their support for the bill on their reliance on 3 professors.

From an inappropriately named Evolution.org (nee Discovery Institute) :

"One biology professor from Louisiana College, Dr. Wade Warren, testified about how during his graduate studies at Texas A & M, the dean ordered him cease discussing scientific problems with students. Another biochemist, Dr. Brenda Peirson, testified about how random mutation and natural selection cannot produce many of the complex biological systems we see in the cell.

One of those scientists, Dr. Caroline Crocker, testified about her experience losing her job at George Mason University after she taught students about scientific arguments against neo-Darwinism. Southern University law professor and constitutional law expert Michelle Ghetti also testified that the bill was “perfectly constitutional.” "

Just looking at Louisiana College site I see as their motto even at the bottom of the page "Louisiana College: Where Critical Thinking and Passionate Faith Connect" I guess I can see why Wade Warren might have been released by Texas A&M - and not for "discussing science" but for apparently forwarding Religion AS Science, and why he might have ended on his feet at Louisiana College. Likewise one can see how Brenda Peirson's "opinion" (that the chemistry of a cell cannot have evolved because it is so complex?) would be welcome too. That to me is pure rubbish given the billions of years chemistry has had to sort it all out.
http://www.lacollege.edu/faculty/warren.aspx
https://www.lacollege.edu/faculty/peirson.php

Dr. Caroline Crocker: ""There really is not a lot of evidence for evolution," says biology professor Caroline Crocker, who supports the theory of intelligent design."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020300822.html
All I can note about her comments are is to just LOL out loud, ... really loud.

I have SERIOUS doubts the Courts will be swayed by such testimony in the way that the elected officials of Louisiana - standing for reelection and playing to their constituents may have been.

[TheStatutoryApe]

"One biology professor from Louisiana College, Dr. Wade Warren, testified about how during his graduate studies at Texas A & M, the dean ordered him cease discussing scientific problems with students. Another biochemist, Dr. Brenda Peirson, testified about how random mutation and natural selection cannot produce many of the complex biological systems we see in the cell.

It may not be correct but I have read that there are certain single cell organisms that actively cultivate and trade beneficial genetic traits in a nueral network sort of fashion. A sort of 'intelligent design' if you will (not to say that god has anything to do with it but that prhaps the 'intelligence' is inherant in the system). So if this is true than it is possible that pure natural selection does not infact fully explain evolution. While the major political ID proponents may not have a viable alternative and may be only using supposed 'holes' in the theory for their own ends there may be a valid point about the inefectiveness of natural selection to fully explain evolution.

[WarPhalange]

Irreducible complexity doesn't hold any real ground. Moreover, it turns out that neutral genes play a much bigger role in evolution than previously thought.

So you can have a gene that gives you a mutation that is neither helpful or harmful. Later, that gene can mutate further and further, until you have a creature that has something totally different than its predecessors.

[TheStatutoryApe]

Irreducible complexity doesn't hold any real ground. Moreover, it turns out that neutral genes play a much bigger role in evolution than previously thought.

So you can have a gene that gives you a mutation that is neither helpful or harmful. Later, that gene can mutate further and further, until you have a creature that has something totally different than its predecessors.

Greg Bear has an interesting book with a plot revolving around the possibility that HERV may be a factor in evolution. I'm think that the theory has been pretty well debunked but an interesting idea none the less. Part of the plot is that the scientists believing this is the case were reluctant to propose the idea officially due to correspondences in concept with 'Intelligent Design' and the 'Gaia Hypothesis'.

[LowlyPion]

It may not be correct but I have read that there are certain single cell organisms that actively cultivate and trade beneficial genetic traits in a nueral network sort of fashion. A sort of 'intelligent design' if you will (not to say that god has anything to do with it but that prhaps the 'intelligence' is inherant in the system). So if this is true than it is possible that pure natural selection does not infact fully explain evolution. While the major political ID proponents may not have a viable alternative and may be only using supposed 'holes' in the theory for their own ends there may be a valid point about the inefectiveness of natural selection to fully explain evolution.

I'd say you are confusing any efficiency or increased orderliness that may arise from an enhanced neural network combinatorics with any kind of specific intent. Judging the "intent" of nature above what falls out the bottom as survival when there may be massively parallel combinations operating through nearly uncountable generations must necessarily be something that can neither be proved in Science nor used in Science to establish that there is some Über-intent guiding chance. (Though I certainly have no argument with considering such ideas within the discipline of Philosophy or the practice of Religion.)

[TheStatutoryApe]

I'd say you are confusing any efficiency or increased orderliness that may arise from an enhanced neural network combinatorics with any kind of specific intent. Judging the "intent" of nature above what falls out the bottom of survival when there may be massively parallel combinations operating through nearly uncountable generations must necessarily be something that can neither be proved in Science nor used in Science to establish that there is some Über-intent guiding chance. (Though I certainly have no argument with considering such ideas within the discipline of Philosophy or the practice of Religion.)

This sort of gene swapping and nueral net like processes is in conflict with natural selection's random mutation concept. The problem with defining 'intelligent design' is that 'intelligence' itself is not reliably defined. So a proposal that there is 'intelligence' inherant in the system can easily be catagorized with some sort of 'uber' or 'god-like' intent. Obviously humans have evolved what we call intelligence so the idea that there may be some primordial collective intelligence (in a nueral network fashion) is not so far fetched. It really depends mainly on your opinion of the 'uniqueness' of human intelligence; which is a rather philosophical arguement that science so far can not maintain.