And you probably thought this issue was settled soon after Clarence Darrow faced off against William Jennings Bryan in that court battle dramatized as Inherit the Wind:
The state legislature of Tennessee has given legal cover to public school teachers to challenge the science of evolution and climate change, in a move that looks set to deepen a debate about politicisation of the classroom.
The bill passed in the Tennessee Senate this week provides legal protection to teachers who personally do not believe in evolution or the human causes of climate change, and instead want to teach the “scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories”.
It comes at a time when science associations are increasingly concerned by moves to inject religious or ideological beliefs into science teaching ahead of the release next month of a new set of education standards which give a central place to climate change…
The Tennessee measure, which passed by 24-8 votes, was strongly criticised by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Centre for Science Education, who called it a step backward. The house approved a similar version of the measure last year.
Bloggers called the move a throwback to the Scopes monkey trial of the 1920s, when a Tennessee public school teacher was convicted and fined for teaching evolution…
When a good lawyer doesn’t have the facts on his/her side, in this case the need for a Republican Party, he/she diverts the jury’s attention with nonsense issues. It’s sad that we have to devote so much time and energy in 2012 proving once again that the world still isn’t flat.
Not being able to walk on water is “just a theory” too, so let’s put the Tenn. Leg. in the deep end of the pool and see how that works out. Remember if they drown they’re not witches.
The Republican Party of the 21st Century, bravely leading back to the 18th century and slavery. And they won’t stop till we reach the ‘Dark Ages.’ If then . . .