A bill passed by Tennessee lawmakers Thursday would allow public schools to teach Creationism (also known as "Intelligent Design") in the science classroom. The legislation is billed as a means to foster critical thinking. However, those opposed to the legislation claim it would do the opposite, and would allow teachers to present religious dogma as legitimate science.
By a 70-28 vote, the Tennessee House approved HB 368. The bill promises to protect teachers from discipline if they discuss alternatives to prevailing scientific theories like evolution.
On the face of it, the text of the bill seems innocuous enough. It reads, in part:
“The state board of education … school system administrators, and public elementary and secondary school principals and administrators shall endeavor to create an environment … 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.”
After all, what could be the harm in respecting difference of opinion in the classroom? Actually, a great deal. Science is rigorous. Somethings are not up for debate. 2 + 2 = 4. The earth is a sphere, not a plane.
Many fear the bill is simply an excuse to give science teachers permission to smuggle religious dogma into the curriculum. Hedy Weinberg, head of the Tennessee chapter of the ACLU, articulates the concerns of many:
“No one doubts the value of critical thinking, but this legislation is not aimed at developing students’ critical thinking skills. The bottom line is this kind of legislation emboldens teachers who want to bring their own beliefs into the classroom.”
According to many concerned critical thinkers, the bill is founded on the false assumption that Creationism, or Intelligent Design, are legitimate scientific alternatives to the theory of evolution. They are not.
Tennessee passes bill to allow teachers to teach creationism, and thus to raise a generation of anti-science ignoramuses
#Creationism: because desert goat herders living in tents 3,000 years ago knew more about the cosmos and biology than modern day scientists'Intelligent design' in Tenn. schools? It's embarassing that a "science" teacher would ever want to teach creationism.
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