[Kosh]

http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/06/27/louisiana-well-thats-it-then/

See title. And we didn't let these guys secede for what reason?

[NGTM-1R]

The shock to me is why they weren't the first to try.

[Nuclear1]

*facepalm*

[Shade]

The shock to me is why they weren't the first to try.

You can cease being shocked. They weren't the first, all previous laws of this sort have been struck down by the courts though, after costing a fortune in taxpayer money in lawyers fees.

[colecampbell666]

*facepalm*

I concur. So how did this law get passed? I was under the impression that the US was not a dictatorship, and that retarded laws could not be passed by one person alone. I'm just glad that we don't have any crackpots trying to fix our science program here, I'm happy being ignorant and learning about stupid concepts like evolution and space.

[BloodEagle]

And we didn't let these guys secede for what reason?

Where do you live, again?

[colecampbell666]

China. But he's American, IIRC.

[Mongoose]

I concur. So how did this law get passed? I was under the impression that the US was not a dictatorship, and that retarded laws could not be passed by one person alone. I'm just glad that we don't have any crackpots trying to fix our science program here, I'm happy being ignorant and learning about stupid concepts like evolution and space.

It was passed by the state's legislature; the governor merely signed it into law.  (It's essentially the same setup as on the federal scale, where Congress passes bills and the president signs them into law.)  Not that details like that make it any easier to swallow.  It's kind of hard to speak out against Southern stereotypes when they seem so hell-bent on living up to them.

[Blue Lion]

Maybe someone can enlighten me, how exactly does one teach this in a way that isn't just reading from the Bible?

[colecampbell666]

I understand how the US legal system works, I'm just appalled that a governing council would pass it.

[BlueFlames]

Bill Text

Take a look at section D....  It's like, after making a very thinly-veiled statement that Genesis should be added as an appendix to proper science textbooks, they've said they're not patently endorsing Christianity.  What a load of wash.

[DeepSpace9er]

Maybe somebody should pass a law stating that the Star Wars chronology should be taught as natural history too.

[Nuclear1]

Bill Text

Take a look at section D....  It's like, after making a very thinly-veiled statement that Genesis should be added as an appendix to proper science textbooks, they've said they're not patently endorsing Christianity.  What a load of wash.

The courts are going to strike that down.  It so clearly endorses Christianity that anyone with any knowledge of the First Amendment is going to see right through it.

Which I can sadly say doesn't include the residents of Louisiana, clearly.

[Solatar]

I think it's time for a little lobbying for the flying spaghetti monster...After all, now that these Christians get their way, why should my child have to worry about that?

Ok...so I'm Catholic and have no children...but still, keep it out of public schools. I have no more love for conservative southern Christians than any other group.

[Goober5000]

Has anybody actually read the link that BlueFlames provided?  (Including BlueFlames himself?)

The act merely allows teachers to "objectively evaluate" and analyze scientific theories, as well as include additional materials in their curriculum to do so.  It doesn't mandate anything and doesn't prohibit anything.

[Nuclear1]

True, the bill doesn't say "you can teach Creationism in your school".

Unfortunately, "scientific theories" in some areas of the US include creationism...which has no base in scientific thought or process whatsoever.

[WMCoolmon]

Has anybody actually read the link that BlueFlames provided?  (Including BlueFlames himself?)

The act merely allows teachers to "objectively evaluate" and analyze scientific theories, as well as include additional materials in their curriculum to do so.  It doesn't mandate anything and doesn't prohibit anything.

Exactly. I read that document and, besides it mentioning evolution by name, I wouldn't have a clue what it's about if somebody hadn't pointed at it and said "Oh noes! Creationism!" Parish and the list of subjects is a big hint, however...

The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, upon request of a city, parish, or other local public school board, shall allow and 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 being studied including, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning.

Given that Intelligent Design seems to be based upon a logical fallacy more than anything else, I have no problem with most of the bill, although I feel the bit about the parish is a pretty clear violation of church and state. I find the ideals stated to be admirable and I hope that the use of the bill lives up to those standards that they've set for themselves.

[Spicious]

If it isn't trying to push creationism into schools, why does it exist?
Science is supposed to include all those things by default.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Oh come on, this is ridiculous! In science class?

[WMCoolmon]

Rather than making blatant generalizations you may want to read the bill itself. It's only about five pages long. The bill itself doesn't mention science class at all. For all we know they could be planning an additional course. The "science class" is just an addendum tacked on by people who've read the bill and have an idea of the situation. It may turn out to be a right conclusion, but right now, it's still just a guess and a shot in the dark.