Posted on 06/12/2008 4:29:38 PM PDT by markomalley
Teachers shouldn't be prevented from discussing alternative views of evolution, global warming and other controversial topics in their science classes, according to a bill backed by some local lawmakers.
But some evolution advocates say identical bills submitted in the state Senate and House are "Trojan horse legislation" intended to open the door to allow schools to teach intelligent design -- a belief that life is the result of a creator -- under the guise of academic freedom.
Gregory Forbes, a Grand Rapids Community College science professor, said there is nothing in the bills that demand teaching intelligent design with or in place of evolution.
But he said the lawmakers who sponsored the bills -- including state Sen. Bill Hardiman, R-Grand Rapids, and Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville -- previously backed bills promoting intelligent design, and a version of the bill appeared on the Web site of the Discovery Institute, a Seattle think tank that has supported similar attempts.
"What this shows is that they're getting better and better at writing cryptically worded bills," said Forbes, who sits on the Michigan Citizens for Science advisory board. He said similar bills were submitted in other states.
"This is Trojan horse legislation that seems to be common sense when you read it, but opens the door for something entirely different," he said.
Hardiman, the lead sponsor of the Senate version, said he was inspired by the recent documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed."
Ben Stein, a former Nixon speechwriter and actor, argued in the film that scientists are ostracized for promoting intelligent design over Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which states that life forms grew and adapted from earlier living organisms.
Hardiman said he worries Michigan teachers are discouraged from talking about intelligent design, or even answering students' questions about the topic.
"People ask me, considering our new graduation requirements, if it is proper to have students learning about controversial topics," he said. "I say, 'What is learning about if not looking at complex and controversial issues?'"
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and Mark Jansen, R-Gaines Township, states schools cannot prohibit teachers from helping students "understand, analyze, critique or review" in an objective manner the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories.
The House version lists state Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, as the primary sponsor, but backers include Tom Pearce, R-Rockford, and Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan. State Rep. Joel Sheltrown, of West Branch, is the lone Democrat.
The bill address only scientific topics -- which Forbes said signals its intent -- and Hardiman said it isn't intended to promote any religious or secular perspective.
Agema said students should be taught to think critically.
"Nothing in science should be beyond scrutiny, not global warming, not intelligent design or cloning," he said. "Students and teachers should be allowed to use facts to present alternative views."
But a leader of the state's largest teachers union said the bill is unnecessary. Michigan Education Association spokesman Doug Pratt said he has never heard of a teacher who was stopped from addressing both sides of a topic.
Grandville Superintendent Ron Caniff said he once prevented a teacher from showing "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's movie about global warming, because it was intended to be a thought-provoking "time filler" -- but wasn't in a science class. He would approved it otherwise.
"I'm aware that there might be controversy on some topics, but there's no heavy hand from central office telling teachers not to let students see both sides," Caniff said. "In the right context, it's important to have students learn about all views on a topic."
I’m sure all the positives of Adolf Hitler are being taught as well. After all, Hitler, according to Liberals, was just misunderstood. He really had good intentions.
And what a painter... Disney cartoons and everything.
Are we in for yet another trial where the Creationists/IDers get their ass kicked?
These lawmakers are real radicals—imagine having a full and fair discussion of global warming in class, instead of forcefeeding our nation’s young with liberal propoganda.
Michigan - there is no intelligent design, no evolution, there’s nothing left but a socialist welfare hellhole infested with thieving bureaucrats, crooked politicians and a population of leftist morons looking for free government hand-outs.
Michigan, once a state boasting entrepreneurs and hard working individuals, is no more. They all left.
That’s right. If we don’t start fighting we will lose everything. Get rid of Congress state and Federal too. They will take your property and your land is worth a lot to you if they drill on it.
That should be a wakeup call to America.
Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech
NYT | 12 June 2008 | By ADAM LIPTAK
Posted on 06/11/2008 6:01:20 PM PDT by shrinkermd
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2029776/posts
Science Without Experiments -
There are no black-and-white answers when we face integrated...
National Review Online | June 12, 2008 | Jim Manzi
Posted on 06/12/2008 12:47:07 PM PDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030096/posts
Peter Schweizer:
Conservatives more honest than liberals?
(Relatively speaking, well, er, yes.)
Examiner.com | 6-2-2008 | Peter Schweizer
Posted on 06/12/2008 5:47:38 PM PDT by Robert A. Cook, PE
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2030298/posts
Nice, but the teachers must first possess rudimentary analytical means themselves. Some of the young teachers I meet are simply skulls full of mush themselves. Hire old farts!
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
Even if teachers were allowed to understand, analyze, critique or review various scientific theories, very, very few of them would. Lockstep liberals without a thought to call their own, for the most part.
There were two fairly conservative teachers at the school my kids just left, and they were both pretty scared about getting sacked for one reason or another, even though both had 15+ years tenure. They kept their views to themselves as much as they could, but they were both thoroughly despised by other teachers and the school admin. Sexton part of town, absolute bastion of liberalism.
Another semester-long class covering the ether.
yup, everett in lansing. don’t know what happened to the teacher, he was older when i was there (class of 96)
i was one of the last classes that had the old gaurd of conservative teachers. a bunch of teachers remembered teaching my dad and my aunts.
Yikes. I take you you were teaching kids that a "theory" in science is synonymous with a "wild guess." If so, I think at least part of the problem is identified right here.
sorry, meant to put down “there used to be a teacher” it wasn’t me.
but yes, that was the teacher’s definition of “theory.” evolution was a “theory,” the big bang was a “theory,” time since dinosaurs went extinct and all possible explanations why were “theories.”
His opinion seemed to be without all the facts, most of which we’ll never get, we might as well compare ourselves to living in plato’s cave.
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