Once again, a proposal that may allow for the teaching of unscientific creationism in science classrooms is making the rounds, this time in Ohio. The language of the proposed bill is (deliberately?) unclear, leading some to dispute the claim that it is an attempt to sneak intelligent design into public education. However, at least one of the bill's sponsors has made his intentions perfectly clear. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, State Representative Andy Thompson said that “the language allows districts to teach faith-based beliefs as part of science classes.”
The courts almost certainly won't allow it, of course, but the ensuing debate could once again lead some religionists to believe their views are not being fairly represented. One statement in particular by Rep. Thompson caught my attention: the Columbus Dispatch reported him as saying that he thinks “it would be good for [students] to consider the perspectives of people of faith. That's legitimate.”
To many, this will seem only fair. After all, leaving out the perspectives of some people because of their religious beliefs is discriminatory, isn't it? But that's not what is going on in science teaching. The perspectives of people of faith are not left out provided they are scientific perspectives. For instance, the scientific views of such religious scientists as Kenneth Miller and Francis Collins are perfectly admissible in the classroom. But that's not what Rep. Thompson means; he wants the unscientific views of people of faith to be taught. And that's as inadmissible as teaching the unscientific views of anyone – theist or atheist – in a science class.
The article in The Plain Dealer is here.
The courts almost certainly won't allow it, of course, but the ensuing debate could once again lead some religionists to believe their views are not being fairly represented. One statement in particular by Rep. Thompson caught my attention: the Columbus Dispatch reported him as saying that he thinks “it would be good for [students] to consider the perspectives of people of faith. That's legitimate.”
To many, this will seem only fair. After all, leaving out the perspectives of some people because of their religious beliefs is discriminatory, isn't it? But that's not what is going on in science teaching. The perspectives of people of faith are not left out provided they are scientific perspectives. For instance, the scientific views of such religious scientists as Kenneth Miller and Francis Collins are perfectly admissible in the classroom. But that's not what Rep. Thompson means; he wants the unscientific views of people of faith to be taught. And that's as inadmissible as teaching the unscientific views of anyone – theist or atheist – in a science class.
The article in The Plain Dealer is here.
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