A lot has been discussed about the Religious Right (or, better yet, Wrong) and how they've become more and more audacious in pushing their radical "agenda" for control over our Society. My husband (an alpha geek) just discovered this little gem on Slashdot (News for nerds, stuff that matters) and just knew that we would have a field-day with it (pathetic as it is).
The blockquotes I have within this diary are taken off of the source website, richarddawkins.net
Update:
Some latent editing of my original diary led me to chopping off some details. The main student here is named Matthew LaClair. The teacher is from a town called Kearny in New Jersey. Oh, and Matthew's Dad is the one who provided the info for Mr. Dawkins.
Please note: emphasis is mine in bold.
A history teacher at the local public high school here may have bitten off more than he cares to chew this fall. Self-described conservative Baptist David Paszkiewicz used his history class to proselytize biblical fundamentalism over the course of several days at the beginning of this school year.
Hmm, could Mr. Religious Fundamentalist have "had it in" for Matthew? Could it have been that the teacher was putting his "political agenda" ahead of his DUTY to teach the kids in school? And a HISTORY teacher at that? Gosh, how many things can be wrong in one story? Wait...don't answer that. It was a rhetorical question. ;-)
Anyway, moving on:
Among his remarks in open class were statements that a being must have created the universe, that the Christian Bible is the word of God, and that dinosaurs were aboard Noah's ark. If you do not accept Jesus, he flatly proclaimed to his class, "you belong in hell." Referring to a Muslim student who had been mentioned by name, he lamented what he saw as her inevitable fate should she not convert. In an attempt to promote biblical creationism, he also dismissed evolution and the Big Bang as non-scientific, arguing by contrast that the Bible is supported by what he calls confirmed biblical prophecies.
Whew! What a RIDE! I mean, this guy is the Wingnuttiest of 'em, eh? Dinosaurs were on Noah's ARK?? Then answer me this, genius: WHY DID THEY GO EXTINCT?!! (roflmao)
So, the story goes on to talk about how the students took the matter up with the school administration, and later, Matthew (who is also a non-Christian and the son of an attorney-heh) requested a meeting with the H.S. Principal and the teacher himself. The teacher then denied any of this happening, blah blah blah, and then Matthew says, and I paraphrase: "Uh, one more thing."
At the end of the meeting, LaClair revealed that he had recorded the remarks, and presented the principal with two compact discs. The teacher then declined to comment further without his union representative. However, he fired one last shot at the student, saying, "You got the big fish ... you got the big Christian guy who is a teacher...!"
Matthew's parents have been rather cool about their demands, if you think about it. They're only asking that the science aspect of the teacher's dishonesty be corrected in class...and that there be more OVERSIGHT among the teachers and what they're actually teaching (instead of proselytizing!). So far, they've gotten inaction as a result. I mean, the teacher didn't even apologize or anything!
The parents state that because of the administration's inaction, they have taken the matter to the school board this week, from whom they are awaiting a response.
Some local press from this story is expected this week; the blogosphere may generate more attention.
Since this post went up on Richard Dawkins' website, he's updated twice. Looks like the blogosphere has generated more attention, as they'd hoped. Now it's on KOS!!! Let's work our "magic", folks!
Oh, and an audio link of the incident at the bottom of the page. It's 38 minutes long, and the quality isn't that good at the beginning, but it clears up.
Whhooo Boy! This teacher is TOAST!
Update II:
Just for kicks and giggles, and because it seems so appropriate to add to this diary, I've added a little something discussing the The Thermodynamics of Hell. Enjoy!