Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are seriously consider a bill that would permit public schools to add "Intelligent" Design creationism to science classes. Christian Right representatives think that this will placate ignorant people who vote for them; the fact that it will lead to even more ignorant people coming out of public schools doesn't matter.
NCSE reports:
That new section would allow school boards to add "intelligent design" to any curriculum containing evolution and allow teachers to use, subject to the approval of the board, "supporting evidence deemed necessary for instruction on the theory of intelligent design." The term "intelligent design" is not defined in the bill. Presumably attempting to prevent a challenge to its constitutionality, HB 1007 explicitly states, "When providing supporting evidence on the theory of intelligent design, no teacher in a public school may stress any particular denominational, sectarian or religious belief."
Reaction from Pennsylvania scientists is so far uniformly negative. Colin Purrington, a biology professor at Swarthmore College, whose spoofs of antievolution disclaimer stickers attracted national attention in The New York Times in December 2004, commented that the bill "would encourage local school districts to promote the teaching of intelligent design creationism alongside the well-accepted theory of evolution. Citizens who view the bill as a fair way to 'teach the controversy' might consider how curricula could be similarly amended to include dissents to a round earth and a heliocentric solar system." Randy Bennett, a biology professor at Juniata College, quipped, "Next we will be asked to teach the revolutionary idea that there are four elements in the universe: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water."
I've never been more embarrassed to live in Pennsylvania. If I find out that anyone representing me is even vaguely attached to this project, even if they are Democrats, I'll volunteer time and money to anyone running against them. Politicians who support and defend stupid, asinine, anti-science efforts like this don't deserve to hold public office.
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I don’t like Pennsylvania Creationists either, but what is anybody going to do about it? Understand that in large part, Creationists indoctrinate those in compromised situations like elementary schools or county jails, where the audience is captive and helpless to bolster reason against crack-pot superstitions. The Poconos are a prime example reminiscent of New Jersey Devils, Witch Hunts, Rip Van Winkle and other Odd stories which survive the light of day as much as they draw the moth-men to the flame, where they expire in court. The ACLU is settling lawsuits there, shedding light on County Jail indoctrinations, and it may be that Pike County is next on the agenda.
-CJ