By a 6-1 voice vote Tuesday, a committee of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved several science textbooks for Louisiana public high schools — books that had come under fire from creationists and advocates of intelligent design who argue the textbooks are dogmatic about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The vote is a huge win for proponents of mainstream biology education and a defeat for the Louisiana Family Forum, a Christian advocacy group that is the books’ chief detractor.
“My immediate reaction is we are very pleased that BESE did the right thing, and we hope that today’s decision is the end of the Louisiana Family Forum on Louisiana science education policy — that’s my reaction,” says Barbara Forrest, a philosophy professor at Southeastern Louisiana University who has led the charge against LFF attempts to compromise science curricula. Forrest’s 2007 book, Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design (Oxford University Press), coauthored with biologist and University of Virginia Emeritus Professor Paul Gross, chronicled the creationists’ systematic — and politically sophisticated — attacks on science curricula in public schools.
District 7 BESE member Dale Bayard, who represents Lafayette and southwest Louisiana, was the lone nay vote in Tuesday’s proceedings. Earlier he explained to The IndependentWeekly his rationale for voting against the textbooks: “Can you just swear on a stack of Bibles and bet your life [that evolution is correct]?” Bayard said last week, hypothetically posing the question to educator friends. “And they say, ‘Absolutely not.’ I say, ‘Well then why do we print a textbook that says that? Why can’t we provide the children with textbooks that provide objective educational methods to look at what’s out there? Must we go out and do the research ourselves? We’re going to spend $72 million with a textbook company, and they’re not going to swear this is accurate?’ They don’t even want to put a disclaimer in their textbook.”
The approval of the textbooks is not yet final; the full 11-member BESE must still vote on the books at a meeting Thursday.
“We’re not going to take anything for granted,” Forrest adds. “We’re going to have some people there just to make sure that today’s vote sticks.”
Among those speaking in favor of evolution in the biology curriculum were the Rev. Patti Snyder, pastor at University Presbyterian Church, along with Associate Pastor Clint Mitchell. Students, teachers and scientists also spoke in favor of the textbooks.
“We had some very, very wonderful people there to speak — truly citizens of which Louisiana should be so proud,” Forrest says. “I know I’m sounding like a proud mom,” she adds with a laugh. “But these kids were just wonderful.”
For more on the fight over biology education in Louisiana public schools, read Wednesday’s Independent cover story, “Devolve: Creationists are jeopardizing science education in Louisiana public schools and once again making us the laughing stock of the country.”
... written by Anita Cathider , December 07, 2010 - 09:35 pm
My shaman is out. Get back with you later.
... written by P.E.C. , December 07, 2010 - 10:24 pm
Can Bayard swear on a stack of Bibles that Creationism is correct? I'm embarrassed to be represented by such an idiot.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , December 08, 2010 - 01:01 am
p.e.c. your ancestors back when, may have swung from the trees, my ancestors hunted them for their coats, AIYEEEE ! If there were not a God, then there would not be any couillion Atheists. PASS THE LIMONSA, P? E? C?
... written by K.S. , December 08, 2010 - 02:26 am
Science only in science class. Religion (creationism/intelligent design) only in Religion class.
... written by Morrow , December 08, 2010 - 10:10 am
I am in favor of this decision. I will teach "intelligent design" in my home, reading from my Bible, just as my mother and father did with me. I don't have any problem reconcilling creationism and evolution and my kids haven't had any problems with it. I don't want any type of religion in my kids' classroom, unless the course is one of theology of various relgions.
... written by Anita Cathider , December 08, 2010 - 01:34 pm
My Shaman says the decision was made by intelligent design.
... written by Farrow , December 08, 2010 - 04:16 pm
This is was the right decision, and I, too, am embarrassed by Bayard.
... written by Farrow , December 08, 2010 - 04:17 pm
This was the right decision and I, too, am embarrassed by Bayard.
... written by Diamond girl , December 08, 2010 - 04:53 pm
I'm very sad to learn of this decision. I though our community had christain values. I guess not!! All christains I know believe the bible! No where in it does it talk about Evolution!!! Good for Bayard for standing up for his beliefs!!
... written by Farrow , December 08, 2010 - 05:28 pm
>I though our community had christain values.
One can have Christian values and still believe in evolution. I myself attended a Catholic school in Lafayette, was taught Biology by a nun, and learned about evolution. Intelligent design and creationism were never mentioned in that Biology class -- only in our Religion class. And that's as it should be, in my opinion.
... written by What the?? , December 08, 2010 - 06:08 pm
"No where in it does it talk about Evolution!!!"
The bible talks about a lot things. Do you believe them all? Do you practice them all? Or do you follow the doctrine of your particular religious group? I would wager that most "religious" people, if they followed the bible as it is written, would live drastically different lives!
And lastly, I guess we haven't evolved at all? We are the exact same men and women as Adam and Eve? My God given logic doesn't support that.
... written by freemindevolving....... , December 08, 2010 - 06:24 pm
dark age dogmas have been eclipsed by science, bible stories are like all pre-scientific mythologies, even their historical and moral legitimacy must be critically examined..... darwins dangerous idea has no rival, the creation is the creator, and at the exact moment we realize this (geologically speaking) our species is hacking at the very root of our own existence..... we have no where else to live, consciousness is our only hope, let's evolve........
... written by Marsha Miller , December 08, 2010 - 09:10 pm
Thank heaven we have at least 6 reasonable people on the committee who believe our children are best served by teaching science in science classes. Theology is valuable to society and education, but it should be presented as theology/philosophy, not as science.
... written by asonge , December 08, 2010 - 10:01 pm
Diamond Girl: Christians run the gamut of beliefs and many Christians do believe in evolution. Biblical literalists only cover about 50% of Christians in the US. I'm sure you know someone who is Catholic...and they are on the whole not Biblical inerrantists. In any event, Pope JP2 endorsed evolution.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , December 10, 2010 - 02:09 am
When a scientist can take a female Great Ape, and himself jointly with the Great Ape personally reproduce the first product of a genetically mix of human and simian. Then, I will accept that way back then, my ancestors were doing Monkeys. But, not all the monkeys got done, this is a fact, because on my last visit to the San Francisco Zoo there was not one Monkey that resembled anyone of you.
... written by paul collier , December 13, 2010 - 01:45 am
Texans with their heads on straight say creeationists have made a laughingstock of Texas. Kentuckians with their heads on straight say creationists have made a laughingstock of Kentucky. Louisianans with...Well, you get the point. The broader truth is: Creationists in every state in the Union have made a laughingstock of the U.S. How have we produced so many of these clowns?
... written by Bill Rohan Sr , December 14, 2010 - 02:29 am
Evolution eliminates the possibility of a God but this logical inference cannot be accepted by many at this time. The arguments that religion and evolution are compatible will reign for many years in public discourse but it is a false claim. The fact that many people still believe the Bible is the "word of God" show how difficult it is to let go of primitive myths.
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