Perhaps, there is finally going to be some accountability for science teachers, as this Religion Clause article inadvertently points out.
First 2009 Foray At Evolution Teaching Introduced In Oklahoma
The National Center for Science Education reports that the first anti-evolution bill to be introduced in a legislature in 2009 is Oklahoma’s proposed Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act (SB 320). The NCSE posting also sets out the full text of the bill which provides in part:educational authorities in this state shall … endeavor to assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies. Toward this end, teachers shall be permitted to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught….
It also provides that:
Students may be evaluated based upon their understanding of course materials, but no student in any public school or institution shall be penalized in any way because the student may subscribe to a particular position on scientific theories.
This act only protects the teaching of scientific information, and this act shall not be construed to promote any religious or non-religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs or non-beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or non-religion.
As a parent, I wouldn’t want public schools teaching my child about religion, creation or God, since that would be my responsibility. But what I would expect from my child’s science teachers is academic responsibility and honesty! In other words, I would expect science teachers to stop putting forth unfalsifiable theories/progress myths and naturalistic fairy tales as absolute fact! If their scientific theories are that on the money, then they shouldn’t be afraid to share their associated fallacies and weaknesses!
I will be very surprised if this doesn’t get shouted down by the atheistic naturalists!
via Religion Clause: First 2009 Foray At Evolution Teaching Introduced In Oklahoma.
Tags: creation, evolution, NCSE, science education