The measure passed by the Tennessee General Assembly would protect teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories, such as global warming.

uh, where's the religious extremism in this?

Apr 4, 2012 -- 10:59AM, gregarious wrote:

uh, where's the religious extremism in this?

That should be readily apparent; the ONLY objections to evolution come from religious extremists.

Apr 4, 2012 -- 12:13PM, mountain_man wrote:

Apr 4, 2012 -- 10:59AM, gregarious wrote:

uh, where's the religious extremism in this?

That should be readily apparent; the ONLY objections to evolution come from religious extremists.

So, you want teachers that encourage debate, discussion, and critical thinking to get in trouble for doing so? Allowing a student to question or criticize evolution (or any other theory) is how they learn and how they become adults that can think critically. Otherwise, you're just teaching them "this is the right answer and there will be no discussion" which is the same thing religious extremists do.

Apr 4, 2012 -- 10:33AM, mountain_man wrote:

Don't these people know that denying the fact of evolution is like denying the Earth is round? Apparently not. Now Tennessee wants teachers to express their backwards, religiously based, opinions in school classrooms.

Here's the news story.

Here's a quote: The measure passed by the Tennessee General Assembly would protect teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories, such as global warming. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said this week he would likely sign it into law.

This is just more "teach the controversy" BS. There is no controversy in the scientific community about evolution. Evolution is a fact. It's been proven beyond a doubt. The ONLY objections are from religious extremists.

Religion is fine if that's what you want, and your choice. Just keep it out of the public school classroom. It is immoral to force religious beliefs on others and forcing them on vulnerable children in school is about as low as one can get.

Another step towards turning the United States into a theocracy. Those in power critisen Iran, while turning the U.S. into Iran.

Although I do not know if they are so caught in their ignorance as to teach creationism

Apr 4, 2012 -- 1:08PM, mecdukebec wrote:

I think children need to learn what is fact, and not what is fantasy, fiction, or fable.  I view the GW opponents as precisely the same located opponents as those churchmen in the CE who opposed Darwin or those in the fundamentalist American South who are, ironically, repeating the Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1912.  When people are dummed down, they fall for a Quack who says "God wants me to bomb Iraq." or "God put me into Office to bomb Iran." 

Agree

If students, who are actually not knowledgeable enough to actually challange legitimate scientific theory: that's why they're students, but if they want to "criticize" evolution, they should take philosophy class, or better yet, a religion class, and to be academically relevant, a world's religion class.

Not in a science class because that impedes their learning of science.  That's probably the one of the biggest reasons so many Americans are 'anti-science' and don't know and won't learn the scientific meaning of the word "theory"