This year, Michigan's science students are getting an early Christmas gift: the Michigan legislature ended its 2008 session with its anti-evolution bills dead in the respective House and Senate committees. According to the release from the National Center for Science Education, the Michigan Science Teachers Association had this to say about the bills:
"Whereas evolution, climate change and cloning are the only 'controversial topics' cited in these bills while 'controversial topics' in non-scientific fields are noticeably omitted and whereas the Curriculum Expectations already address the pedagogical & educational goals of these bills, the legislative intent of these bills is called into question. ... . This type of legislation may enable the introduction of non-scientific ideologies, such as 'intelligent design (ID) creationism', into the public science classroom."
The Michigan bills were almost identical to the recently-enacted law in Louisiana which called into question just a few so-called "controversial topics." Similar bills were introduced in Alabama, Florida, Missouri and South Carolina. All died.
Requiscat in pace? Probably a vain hope. The anti-evolutionists will be back with their ever-evolving terminology. We just need to keep insisting that only REAL science should be taught in public school science classes.
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
