Saturday, February 03, 2007
New Mexico: Creationist Bills Introduced
In the New Mexico legislature two bills disguised as promoting academic freedom have been introduced that would, if passed, grant individual teachers the right to teach creationism and intelligent design in science classes there.
You can read Senate Bill 371 which, according to its creationist authors, provides "for school science content standards and rules regarding the teaching of theories of biological origins," here.
House Bill 506, sponsored by good ol' W. C. "Dub" Williams, would "give teachers the right and freedom, when a theory of biological origins is taught, to objectively inform students of scientific information relevant to the strengths and weaknesses of that theory and protect teachers from reassignment, termination, discipline or other discrimination for doing so." The text of HB 506 can be found here.
Ol' Dub has also sponsored House Joint Memorial 14 because "scientific theories of biological origins have implications that can challenge or support the personal religious or philosophical beliefs of students and their parents." The complete text can be found here.
Sen. Steve Komadina is the sponsor of Senate Joint Memorial 9, a similar bill, that would grant teachers the right and freedom to teach biological origins "objectively." You can read it here.
Two groups in New Mexico that have been active in defending science education there New Mexicans for Science and Reason and the New Mexico Coalition for Excellence in Math and Science Education have met with state lawmakers to explain how this legislation would hurt science education there. They have also begun a letter writing campaign.
You can read Senate Bill 371 which, according to its creationist authors, provides "for school science content standards and rules regarding the teaching of theories of biological origins," here.
House Bill 506, sponsored by good ol' W. C. "Dub" Williams, would "give teachers the right and freedom, when a theory of biological origins is taught, to objectively inform students of scientific information relevant to the strengths and weaknesses of that theory and protect teachers from reassignment, termination, discipline or other discrimination for doing so." The text of HB 506 can be found here.
Ol' Dub has also sponsored House Joint Memorial 14 because "scientific theories of biological origins have implications that can challenge or support the personal religious or philosophical beliefs of students and their parents." The complete text can be found here.
Sen. Steve Komadina is the sponsor of Senate Joint Memorial 9, a similar bill, that would grant teachers the right and freedom to teach biological origins "objectively." You can read it here.
Two groups in New Mexico that have been active in defending science education there New Mexicans for Science and Reason and the New Mexico Coalition for Excellence in Math and Science Education have met with state lawmakers to explain how this legislation would hurt science education there. They have also begun a letter writing campaign.
