Brand new Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal just signed a bill that will allow teachers to present ID (Intelligent Design) in Louisiana science classrooms.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today warned Louisiana officials that lawsuits will result if the state’s new anti-evolution law is used to introduce religion into public school classrooms.
Gov. Bobby Jindal this week signed the legislation (SB 733), which allows teachers to use “supplemental materials” when discussing evolution. The measure was pushed by the Louisiana Family Forum and the Discovery Institute, two Religious Right groups that advocate creationist concepts, and is widely seen as an effort to water down instruction about evolution.
“I am very disappointed that Gov. Jindal signed this unwise and unnecessary measure,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “Louisiana has a long and unfortunate history of trying to substitute dogma for science in public school classrooms. Let me state clearly and upfront that any attempts to use this law to sneak religion into public schools through the back door will not be tolerated.”
Georgia's Cobb County tried that a couple of years ago by working through the state BOE but got roundly embarrassed by the response from the civilized world.
Thrrrrrpppp.
God wasn't happy either. S/he prefers not to have his/her options limited by humans more ignorant than tree stumps. "I mean," s/he's thinking, "who do they think they're kidding?"
Supporters of the bill, including the Discovery Institute and Sen. Ben Nevers, its primary sponsor, have insisted that the measure is not intended to promote religion.
Yeah, right.
PZ Myers is ignoring this, and maybe he's right. Louisiana embarrassing itself isn't exactly news and nobody exactly cares what they do. Still, I thought that their induction into the Fact-esque Science Hall of Shame ought to be announced and celebrated. Every once in a while Louisiana threatens to overturn its standing as the dumbest state in the nation, possibly the world, and we wanted to let everyone know that as of today that standing still...um...stands.
Congratulation Bobby Jindal! You've kept Louisiana on top again. (God is rolling his/her/its eyes but never mind. What does s/he/it know anyway? S/he/it, probably.)
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