Tennessee Allows Creationism into Schools

[liveonearth]

As if it were as legitimate a "theory" as evolution... This is painfully embarrassing to me, as a Tennessean. The governor who allowed it is William Haslam. Unimpressed, I am. What will we call this period in time---the Unenlightenment?

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/04/11/tennessee-opens-door-to-creationism-in-schools/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/law-allows-creationism-to-be-taught-in-tenn-public-schools/2012/04/11/gIQAAjqxAT_story.html

http://mblogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/04/11/tennessee-passes-law-allowing-creationism-in-the-classroom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BadAstronomyBlog+%28Bad+Astronomy%29

Comments

[newedition.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

My hope is that even though the teachers will be "allowed," if not encouraged, to teach these evolution "alternatives," that they will choose not to exercise that option.

Several years ago I taught 9th and 12th grade biology in a private school. When I took the job I thought the school offered a classical liberal education; it turned out to be a Christian fundamentalist place. I was told NOT to teach evolution, but to teach creationism! The school was not at all a good match for me, and we mutually agreed that I would leave at the end of that year. Anyway, I developed an evolution assignment using Ervin Laszlo's "The Systems View of the World." It describes how evolution does not demean humans, but rather allows us to appreciate our place in the universe and our interconnectedness with all other beings. The project didn't go over too well with the parents or the headmaster, but perhaps some Tennessee teachers will try a similar approach which technically allows students to "learn" creationism while gently showing how unfounded it is.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I believe that there are many teachers in TN who will relish the opportunity to indoctrinate children in their own belief systems instead of teaching critical thinking. I can only hope that there will be enough exposure to other ideas that the kids will figure it out for themselves.