Bill Allows Teachers to Contradict Evolution

Helical writes "In an attempt to defy the newly approved state science standards, Florida Senator Rhonda Storms has proposed a bill that would allow teachers to contradict the teaching of evolution. Her bill states that 'Every public school teacher in the state's K-12 school system shall have the affirmative right and freedom to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or biological origins.' The bill's main focus is on protecting teachers who want to adopt alternative teaching plans from sanction, and to allow teachers the freedom to teach whatever they wish, even if it is in opposition to current standards."

Comments

Re:Sounds fine to me

[mrchaotica]

OK, now, prove to some fundamentalist teacher (1} or other that it's not scientific (2)...

1. I don't have to prove anything to the teacher; it's the school board or court that things would have to be proven to.
2. On the contrary, everything is non-scientific by default. I don't have to prove that the thing isn't scientific; the teacher has to prove that it is!

Re:This happens everywhere

[fishbowl]

Free speech doctrine actually allows all of this to begin with, no need for any affirmative right. The question is whether the employer (school district) is constrained in its choice of whether to retain the employee.
This law eliminates causes for termination, more than anything, because it does not actually grant any rights the teacher (or anyone else) already has.

Re:Science != Teleology

[dasbush]

Classic misunderstanding of the Catholic Church. We don't disagree with evolution. We say it is a theory, good science, and (most importantly) not contradictory to the faith.

Basically, the Catholic Church says: Evolution is how God created, Bible is why.

That said I think evolution is a much more beautiful thing than God just snapping His fingers and saying "BAM!"

Re:This happens everywhere

[hypnagogue]

Teachers do NOT have the right to teach their opinions to other people's children. They have the duty to teach the curriculum approved by the local and state school boards. Essentially, they are actors, presenting a pre-written script, and they can only ad-lib so long as they stick to the general plot.

And that's the reason why public schools fail. The only reason for education is to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to function in society as an adult. Teaching kids to conform to the party line without critical thought is useful only when training them to flip burgers.

If that's what public school teaches, fine. I'll pay for private school, and 10 years from now your kids will be serving mine -- lunch.