The sky is falling! Many interest groups and journalists raced to
tell that to the public when a modest but important bill became law in
Tennessee early in April.
The law instructs teachers and administrators
to "create an environment within public elementary and secondary schools
that encourages students to explore scientific questions, learn about
scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respond
appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about
controversial issues."
What's not to like? The law, similar to one in Louisiana, also
protects teachers who help students (I'm quoting from the official
legislative summary) "understand, analyze, critique, and review in an
objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of
existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught. ..."
Oh, here's the problem: Evolution is one of the theories that can now be
analyzed and critiqued.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, the
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, the American Institute of
Biological Sciences, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers,
and many others have gone ape over the inclusion of evolution. They
revere critical thinking and the freedom to explore, but not when it
might produce irreverence toward their idol. Continue at Marvin Olasky
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