quote:

PHOENIX - Saying students are getting only one side of the debate, a state senator wants to free teachers to tell students why some believe there is no such thing as human-caused "global warming."

More specifically, SB 1213 says school boards and officials cannot prohibit a teacher from helping students analyze and review the "strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories," which means teachers would be free to tell students not only that they believe global warming is a myth, but would open the door for teachers to argue for the scientific validity of "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution.

The proposal by Sen. Judy Burges, R-Skull Valley, says school boards must create an environment "that encourages pupils to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about controversial issues."

But Andrew Morrill, president of the Arizona Education Association, said that's what teachers already do. Based on similar measures in other states, Burges' bill points toward its origin, Morrill said.

The bill has all the markings of model legislation written by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative business-backed organization, to suppress certain issues like global warming, he said.

Burges said she did not get the language from the Legislative Exchange Council, saying it came from Tennessee. But she made it clear she believes only the environmentalists' viewpoint is being presented.

"I just feel that our students are being inundated with things in classrooms," she said. "Students should be given all sides of the story," Burges said, something they may not be getting now.

"It actually says in the textbooks that if you don't believe in global change that you're very misinformed," Burges said.

"There should be an opportunity for teachers to step up to the plate and give their opinion, if they have scientific proof, that it isn't happening, that it's a natural phenomena, without retribution," she explained.

quote:

A new antiscience bill was introduced in the Arizona Senate. A typical instance of the "academic freedom" strategy for undermining the teaching of evolution and climate change, Senate Bill 1213 would, if enacted, call on state and local education administrators to endeavor to "create an environment in schools that encourages students to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about controversial issues" and to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies."

The targets of the bill are explicitly listed in a section that presents as legislative findings that "1. An important purpose of science education is to inform students about scientific evidence and to help students develop critical thinking skills necessary to become intelligent, productive and scientifically informed citizens. 2. The teaching of some scientific subjects, including biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning, can cause controversy. 3. Some teachers may be unsure of the expectations concerning how they should present information on such topics."

quote:

"Four US states are considering new legislation about teaching science in schools, allowing pupils to be taught religious versions of how life on earth developed in what critics say would establish a backdoor way of questioning the theory of evolution," the Guardian (January 13, 2013) summarizes. The states in question are Colorado (House Bill 13-1089), Missouri (House Bill 179 and House Bill 291), Montana (House Bill 183), and Oklahoma (Senate Bill 758 and House Bill 1674) — to which should be added Arizona (Senate Bill 1213) and Indiana (House Bill 1283), for a grand total of eight bills in six states.

Missouri's HB 179 and HB 291 target evolution only, with HB 291 requiring, "If scientific theory concerning biological origin is taught in a course of study, biological evolution and biological intelligent design shall be taught. Other scientific theory or theories of origin may be taught." Arizona's SB 1213, Colorado's HB 13-1089, Oklahoma's HB 1674, and Montana's HB 183 target, in varying wording, "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning." Oklahoma's SB 758 and Indiana's HB 1283 mention no specific topics, although evolution is clearly the implicit target.

...

Although over forty such bills have been introduced over the last decade, only two have been enacted: in Louisiana in 2008 and in Tennessee in 2012. Barbara Forrest, a philosophy professor at Southeastern Louisiana University (and a member of NCSE's board of directors) attributed the popularity of such bills to the outcome of the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, in which teaching "intelligent design" in the public schools was found to be unconstitutional. "Creationists never give up. They never do. The language of these bills may be highly sanitized but it is creationist code," she said.

"The laws can have a direct impact on a state," the Guardian reported, citing the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology's boycott of Louisiana (recently rescinded for the city of New Orleans, after the New Orleans City Council and the Orleans Parish School Board both took firm stands against teaching creationism). Zack Kopplin, the young Lousiana activist, argued that similar bills risk the economy and the reputation of states considering them. "It really hurts students. It can be embarrassing to be from a state which has become a laughing stock in this area," Kopplin remarked.

quote:

Missouri's HB 179 and HB 291 target evolution only, with HB 291 requiring, "If scientific theory concerning biological origin is taught in a course of study, biological evolution and biological intelligent design shall be taught.

quote:

How do you all put up with it? More to the point: why are these lunatics in any position of power in the first place

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

FR
There seems to be this weird culture in American politics that has it that a) nobody knows a thing about what the police or military does; members of the aforementioned organisations are "experts" and we should shut the fuck up when they talk from their position of absolute wisdom about policing and military matters respectively but that b) everyone knows as much, if not more, than teachers about teaching and the education system in general.

quote:


This seems to be the reason why you get one dangerously over-tanned, alarmingly-white-toothed, square-jawed meathead after another coming up with his unbelievably cretinous opinion on education, which is a matter about which he generally knows utterly zilch.

How do you all put up with it? More to the point: why are these lunatics in any position of power in the first place?

quote:

Although over forty such bills have been introduced over the last decade, only two have been enacted: in Louisiana in 2008 and in Tennessee in 2012. Barbara Forrest, a philosophy professor at Southeastern Louisiana University (and a member of NCSE's board of directors) attributed the popularity of such bills to the outcome of the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, in which teaching "intelligent design" in the public schools was found to be unconstitutional. "Creationists never give up. They never do. The language of these bills may be highly sanitized but it is creationist code," she said.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

quote:

How do you all put up with it? More to the point: why are these lunatics in any position of power in the first place

In Missouri my home state it is because a relatively minority rural population has gained control of the legislature because of the county designations and rural flight to the cities.

At one time the rural population of Missouri aligned itself with the Democratic party but moved to the Republican side with Democratic led assaults on religion.

Religion is very strong in rural Missouri and politicians know they must cater to this fact. The rural population in turn goes along with Republican doctrine in order to have representation and protection of their way of living.

Republicans have recognized this rural connection to politics and have tied their wagon to them. But as recent political events have proven they cannot dominate the political scene with minority support….So there will be changes soon and maybe the fanatics will lose their grip on the grand old party.

Butch

quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead

It's worth remembering in the light of that statement that the last time creationism was being emphasised and the theory of evolution being frozen out of high school education it took the Russians beating you into space to produce a u turn on that stance.

quote:

My point is that it wasn't until it became obvious that more rocket scientists and less fundamentalists were needed that this crap was removed from science classes.

quote:

My point is that it wasn't until it became obvious that more rocket scientists and less fundamentalists were needed that this crap was removed from science classes.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ElChupa

Just because it is your religion and mantra doesn't mean it is good science, unless you think science and theory are unchallengeable. Review what the scientific method is all about. Of course, unless you know it is all propaganda. There are THOUSANDS of scientists who have legitimate doubts about the research quoted to support global warming/cooling, whatever it's called today. Since where is there ever settled science? It should always be under challenge. Your chief spokesman is a nutty politician in a bad suit called AlGore? And he sells that network that nobody watched to middle eastern oil interests? yeah, makes sense to me if I were a looney leftist. See, how do you compromise with stupid and dangerous? You don't. I haven't read the bill but I will since I'm in Arizona. Frankly, we need more school choice so parents can escape the propaganda of the left. Hell, I survived public schools and universities, so it can be done. Is the earth warming? Ten thousands years of evidence suggest it is. What caused it? We don't know. My educated best guess: world wide volcanic action is one culprit. You have to understand the motives of the global warming hoax. Destroy economies. Control. And how to make $billions in these phony carbon credits put forth by the likes of algore and other leftists.