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Science gets the boot in Louisiana schools
Filed under: In The News, Day Care & Education, Religion & Spirituality
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal -- surprisingly, a biology major in college -- has signed into law a bill that allows school boards in Louisiana to select materials to be used in science classes in order to critique scientific theories. The law is supposed to be used to promote "open and objective discussion of scientific theories... including, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."Given that the law was written and promoted with the help of the Discovery Institute, the Seattle "think" tank that orchestrated the Dover debacle, the point of the law seems clear: to allow school boards to select texts that question evolution -- such as the one produced by the Discovery Institute itself. Unfortunately, this will open school districts to very expensive lawsuits, a la Dover. In Oklahoma, the Governor vetoed a similar law, noting that school districts would suffer from "an explosion of costly and protracted litigation that would have to be defended at taxpayers' expense."
The scientific community, naturally, has opposed this legislation. The law will "unleash an assault against scientific integrity, leaving students confused about science and unprepared to excel in a modern workforce," according to Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Biologist PZ Myers offers up a scathing analysis that includes an alternative to the Discovery Institute's materials.
Personally, I think Louisiana has enough to worry about, thanks to Hurricane Katrina, and doesn't need the financial burden of school boards trying to push Intelligent Design into classrooms, but that's just me. Luckily, my kids don't go to school in Louisiana, but I'm sure they'll feel the effects of this for a long time as they end up having to deal with others who were "educated" with the help of the Dover Institute.
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
6-30-2008 @ 2:00PM
ghost said...Eugene, aside from the fact that you are obviously using this as your platform for criticizing religions, your arguments have many flaws. I will just pick on one of them. You say scientists don't start with the idea that they know the answer. Well, that is BS. The application of the "scientific method" always starts with someone hypothesizing what the answer is, and the entire study is designed based on the beliefs of the scientists involved. Bias affects what data is gathered, how and from where it is gathered, the limited number of possibilities that are tested, and the interpretation of results. The so-called "scientific method" is so full of bias that it is a joke to pretend it's leading us to unquestionable "facts." The sad thing is that scientists who fail to recognize this mislead themselves and waste precious time and money going down the wrong path time and again, only to be proven wrong in the next generation, often after much damage is done.
I want my children to recognize that science is about experimenting and discovering, not about knowing irrefutable facts.
Personally I have more respect for people who acknowledge they have a religious "belief" than those who insist that the field of "science" is a collection of "facts."
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6-30-2008 @ 2:31PM
eugene said...So typical. Yes, where does one get a hypothesis from? From observing and then coming up with a theory to describe the observation. Then through EXPERIMENTATION and VERIFICATION the theory is reinforced, validated or abandoned. Even if a scientist creates a biased report that espouses his/her own theory... through independent verification by other scientists, their theory is either validated or disputed. That's how the system works. There are scientists who question and look for holes in every theory... there are no "irrefutable facts" in science as everything is in question. But please, go ahead and give us an example of these "irrefutable facts" that you claim exist in science.
So, considering you don't have the faintest idea of what you're talking about, I don't find it surprising at all that you look down on science.
The only people who claim to have "irrefutable facts" are people who hold to doctrine and doctrine has no role in science.
6-30-2008 @ 2:50PM
eugene said...And no, I'm not criticizing religion. I'm criticizing "christians" who try to push their interpretation of christianity on other people by using deceipt and coersion.
I would have just as much disdain if the secular world tried to force churches to teach aetheism or a religion. How would you feel if you lived in a community that was a majority Hindu, or Buddhist and they forced pastors to preach on Dharma and Karma as "alternitive theories to salvation?" Or if your child came home from Sunday school saying that their "teacher" spent the entire morning telling them that Islam was just as valid and that they should try praying to Allah instead of Jesus?
There are appropriate places to discuss religion, at the church, at the temple, at home. I don't even mind people who go door to door or do street evangelizing. But you don't have the right to use the government (via the public schools) to spread your religion.
I don't understand why this is such a hard concept to understand.
6-30-2008 @ 2:42PM
Tony Whitson said...Just one point of correction: "the Discovery Institute" is referred to as "the Seattle "think" tank that orchestrated the Dover debacle." Actually, although they had a role in getting that ball rolling, they quickly saw that it was going to be a debacle for them, and they withdrew as best they could before the trial. The pro-ID school board wasn't up to orchestrating anything (what with the Oxycontin & all). To the extent that there was any orchestration on that side, it was by the Thomas More Law Center.
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7-04-2008 @ 4:29AM
Daniel said...Eugene, I assume you're a Science lecturer? You speak as if you are omniscient. Back up your scientific statements with some cold, hard facts! Maybe you don't know the scientific method....you're just as bad as the unscientific, tradition-trapped Catholic Church was back in Galileo's time. Actually, since he was a practicing Christian, you must believe what they believe: the universe is helio-centric. Did you know that most of the greatest scientists were Christians? Not having alternate views in the school, is just as bad as communism. I also must assume you're an athiest of some big proportions. Boy, I'm glad scientists don't share your views - single-minded; not open to debate - science is completely opposite of that.
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7-04-2008 @ 4:31AM
Daniel said...Also, I must point out that Darwin himself pointed out weaknesses in his theory - and he wasn't afraid to admit them!!! Darwin himself wouldn't be proud of your bold statements, Eugene.
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7-04-2008 @ 6:34AM
Daniel said...Dammit - wrote helio-centric; it's getting late here...
*geo-centric
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