stand up for REAL science

Oklahoma wins the ~~booby~~ prize for having the first "academic freedom" bill filed this year.

From the National Center for Science Education:

Senate Bill 320 (document), prefiled in the Oklahoma Senate and scheduled for a first reading on February 2, 2009, is apparently the first antievolution bill of 2009. Entitled the "Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act," SB 320 would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." The only topics specifically mentioned as controversial are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."

Once again, the legislation states that students may be evaluated on their comprehension of REAL science, not that they will be held accountable for learning science. In other words, students aren't required to understand REAL science in order to pass because of the presence of the weasel word "may:"

E. Students may be evaluated based upon their understanding of course materials, but no student in any public school or institution shall be penalized in any way because the student may subscribe to a particular position on scientific theories.

Here's a scenario dreaded by science teachers:
"For 5 points, explain the scientific evidence supporting the Big Bang theory."

Student response: "God said BANG; see Genesis."

Wouldn't the student be due full credit for this answer because (a) they're not required to understand the science and (b) they're expressing a religious viewpoint against which we must not discriminate?

The anti-evolutionists in Oklahoma aren't content to wait until the 2009-2010 school year to put this bill into effect should it pass (emphasis added):

SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.