From a survey conducted by The Union of Concerned Scientists, it was reported on April 22,2008 that, "more than half of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]scientists who responded to the survey said they had witnessed political interference in scientific decisions". Further, Francesca Grifo, director of the group’s scientific integrity programs indicated that Scientists are being pressured by outside interests...".[Ref.: article by Christopher Lee, The Washington Post].
Its not that such attacks on Science by members of our current White House Administration are of news to Street Prophets readers, but rather to bring to attention that political mischief by various States politicians of the same bent seems to be flourishing also specifically in regard to evolutionary theory.
Read about it below the fold:
fold:
Note that despite the embarrassing outcome, in the not too distant past legal debacle involving the Dover, Pennsylvania area School District, in regard to the teaching of Intelligent Design in Science Classes ; Political Pressure Mongering by those with an agenda for suppression of and educational DILUTION of The theory of evolution persists actively at state levels and are currently being debated .
Similar measures to allow questioning of evolution are being considered in Missouri and Louisiana. A version proposed in Alabama fortunately failed, [Ref:Anna Scott<anna.scott@heraldtribune.com>]
however, such questioning of evolution theory is currently being vigerously pushed in Florida State Senate & House bills .
While the Dover Law Suit http://www.aclu.org/... was specifically filed in regard to a complaint that presenting "intelligent design" in public school science classrooms violated religious liberty by promoting particular religious beliefs to their children under the guise of science education ... the Florida bills go yet another evolution in wording....from the innitial attempts to teach biblical creationism along side evolution in public schools through the intelligent design rewording but failed attempt by the Dover Area School Board .
In the Florida Senate , Sen. Ronda Storms (R- Valrico) claims that her bill’s purpose is to protect students’ and teachers right to free speech & thought, while Florida House Rep. Alan Hays R-Umatilla) said he prefers his bill requiring "a thorough presentation" of evolutionary theory
such that if a teacher chooses to question the theory of evolution, his bill would prevent said teacher from being hauled into court.
These are but thinly disguised political efforts to get around the recent Florida State Board of Education having decided that Florida students should learn Darwin’s theory of Evolution in science classes.
The above named legislative proponents of the so called evolution bills are silent about whether they allow teaching of intelligent design or creationism. Oponents however say that is clearly the intended effect.
My beef is that I firmly feel that I.D. & creationism should not be taught in science classes and certainly not alongside evolution. I personally do not mind their being discussed , for example, in classes on history or philosophy of religion .
I do not mind teaching of creationism &/or I.D. in such or similar classes because I suspect that such teachings can then be DILUTED by occupying class time by also offering topics such as Native American mythology of creation or even a Pasta-farian version of what ever it is that they, as adherents to "The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster",would have to offer.
Indeed there is, in my opinion, a continuing need to fight efforts to include I.D. and creationism in science classes to prevent similar attempts at dilution of evolution theory teaching there and for preventing confusion regarding evolution in the minds of science class students.
Florida residents who read this are urged to quickly contact their state representatives to speak out against the above bills.