Undermining Science in Louisiana

The Louisiana legislature has passed a bill that allows local school districts to seek help from the State Board of Education to teach “critical thinking” and “objective discussion" on the origin and evolution of life, global warming, and human cloning. To become law the bill needs the signature of Governor Bobby Jindal, who is a potential candidate for vice president on the Republican ticket.

In my estimation the Louisiana proposal is yet another transparent strategy by the religious right to undermine sound science. Critical thinking and objective discussion are certainly worthy intellectual skills. But to present creationism/intelligent design as an equal and parallel theories to evolution is simply a disservice to students already knowledge-impoverished. It also places an unnecessary burden on teachers.

I’m going to keep an eye on Governor Jindal. How he proceeds will be a test of his own critical and objective skills, as well as a measure of his qualifications to hold our nation's second highest office.