La. House supports changes to science teaching

AP Louisiana News ^ | 6/11/2008, | MELINDA DESLATTE

[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A proposal that would let science teachers change how they teach topics like evolution, cloning and global warming in public schools was overwhelmingly approved Wednesday by the Louisiana House.

Supporters say the bill — titled the "Louisiana Science Education Act" — is designed to promote critical thinking, strengthen education and help teachers who are confused about what's acceptable for science classes.

"It basically protects teachers to be able to teach controversial subjects in science without looking over their shoulders," said Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, who handled the bill in the House. He also said the bill was not aimed at promoting any religious doctrine.

[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

"It basically protects teachers to be able to teach controversial subjects in science without looking over their shoulders,"

Good. Perhaps they can now teach some of the history of Darwinism and evolutionary biology without losing their jobs, families, friends, mortgage, credit rating, etc.

[ASA Vet]

Ping for a Flute player

[megatherium]

He also said the bill was not aimed at promoting any religious doctrine.

Similar assertions in the Dover case led to the judge determining that perjury had taken place.

[Coyoteman]

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based advocacy group, said the bill would promote teaching creationism in public schools and said some teachers might use supplemental materials produced by fundamentalist Christian organizations.

And in other news, the sun rises in the east. Film at eleven.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Or maybe they can teach anything at all.

What’s a cell? How is it different than a virus?

Why is it so hard to get HIV but not syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV, herpes, Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, ...

[<1/1,000,000th%]

How do girls get pregnant?

Why are condoms unsafe and ineffective?