What's really scary about this is that rejecting evolution requires rejecting the entire framework of modern science, as well as a body of evidence that is overwhelming in scope. It requires a kind of intellectual dishonesty -- or at the very least willful ignorance -- that almost has to be called pathological. If they want to teach religion in school lets have religion courses that teach all the world's religions in depth. But of course, that's not what this is about. Its about indoctrination.
Olin ----- Original Message ----- From: William T Goodall<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Brin-L<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 10:17 AM Subject: Louisiana passes first antievolution "academic freedom" law http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080627-louisiana-passes-first-antievolution-academic-freedom-law.html<http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080627-louisiana-passes-first-antievolution-academic-freedom-law.html> "Louisiana passes first antievolution "academic freedom" law By John Timmer | Published: June 27, 2008 - 02:13PM CT As we noted last month, a number of states have been considering laws that, under the guise of "academic freedom," single out evolution for special criticism. Most of them haven't made it out of the state legislatures, and one that did was promptly vetoed. But the last of these bills under consideration, the Louisiana Science Education Act (LSEA), was enacted by the signature of Governor Bobby Jindal yesterday. The bill would allow local school boards to approve supplemental classroom materials specifically for the critique of scientific theories, allowing poorly-informed board members to stick their communities with Dover-sized legal fees. The text of the LSEA suggests that it's intended to foster critical thinking, calling on the state Board of Education to "assist teachers, principals, and other school administrators to create and foster an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories." Unfortunately, it's remarkably selective in its suggestion of topics that need critical thinking, as it cites scientific subjects "including, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning." Oddly, the last item on the list is not the subject of any scientific theory; the remainder are notable for being topics that are the focus of frequent political controversies rather than scientific ones." -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk<http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk/> Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/<http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/> Debunking bullshit is a thankless task. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l<http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l> _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
