It isn’t clear if God decided when he created the world 6,000 years ago that America would be a laughing-stock when it comes to educating our kids about science or if it’s a cruel joke He came up with recently. Either way, Louisiana has fallen for it; hook, line, and sinker.
An investigative article done by Zach Kopplin of Slate.com has revealed that Louisiana teachers are using the bible in public classrooms to teach kids creationism as science.
Kopplin uncovered a mountain of emails from teachers to administrators discussing how the bible should be used in classrooms, as well as some compelling curriculum showing creationism as an equal theory to evolution.
One email, from science teacher Shawna Creamer to the principal of Airline High School, says:
We will read in Genesis and them [sic] some supplemental material debunking various aspects of evolution from which the students will present.
A PowerPoint presentation uncovered says that evolution is just an unproven theory, adding that while creationism is also a theory, “basis for creationism is founded in Genesis of the Bible,” and “Creationism relies on the claim that there is a ‘purpose’ to all creation known only to the creator.”
A controversial column in the Shreveport Times, penned by fifth-grade teacher Charlotte Hinson, stated that “My job is to present both [evolution and creationism], because God made science.”
In his article, Kopplin notes:
Hinson said that despite a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union warning against teaching creationism, she had the support of local lawyers, her principal, and the school board. The principal and school board “reminded me I did nothing wrong,” she wrote. “Times are getting harder and harder…….I feel the end is near. Be blessed!!!”
The inmates are definitely teaching class from the asylum in Louisiana.
Teaching creationism isn’t just a fluke in Louisiana, it’s the law. Despite Supreme Court rulings that teaching creationism is unconstitutional, Louisiana lawmakers have made it “legal” in their state. What does Governor Bobby Jindal have to say about generations of solid science being sidelined in favor mystical stories from a magical book? Kopplin wites:
Gov. Bobby Jindal, who signed the Science Education Act, said it was for creationism. “What are we scared of?” Jindal asked. State Sen. Ben Nevers said he sponsored it in the Senate because “creationism should be discussed when dealing with Darwin’s theory.” In April state Rep. Frank Hoffmann, a state House sponsor, confirmed the law was for creationism. The Ouachita Citizen reported that Hoffmann told it that Louisiana science curriculum policy “recommended a scientific discussion in the classroom of scientific theories including creationism and evolution.”
Leave it to Republicans to take something that should be reserved for Sunday School and turning it into what they call “science.”
Image: Wikimedia
