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CREATIONISM

New Orleans School District Bans Creationism

Bars religious teaching from both science and history classrooms

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: Politix

Louisiana has recently been in the news for a school voucher program that funds religious schools teaching creationism as science.

Now at least one Louisiana school board is charting a reverse course. Orleans Parish has voted to ban teaching creationism, intelligent design, and any element of religious belief in science classes. The parish has also banned a popular "revisionist" history syllabus from Texas, which offers a conservative, religious viewpoint.

None of the schools in Orleans Parish actually teaches creationism - but the school board president Thomas Robichaux wanted to ensure that they never did, and so passed the measure as his final act before leaving office.

The curricula used in Texas schools are the focus of especial angst among educators because the Lone Star State has such a large population, and so its educational standards and textbooks often get adopted nationally. California has already banned the Texas history curriculum from public schools.

Via Raw Story.
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Do you support banning creationism from science and the Texas curriculum from history?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • NormalFlora
    !
    But poorly educated kids who don't know the difference between mythology and science grow up to be... unemployable. And they suck resources from states where science class teaches actual science. So, yeah, it's everybody's concern!
  • Godlesspanther
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    No, actually there are standards and guidelines for elementary and secondary education in the US. The Kitzmiller v Dover case of 2005 demonstrates how and why the dictates of a school board ought to be limited. Particularly in the area of science. We don't teach creationism for the same reason we don't teach phrenology.
  • o
    Inccorect
    !
    No, I don't give a damn what they teach but they should not teach this if YOU want YOUR kids to learn about CHRISTIANITY ( probably what they would teach ) the. YOU Inform them not the teachers. Do you seriously want to offend people you, you, ass if u do that it will make people who are Jewish, atheist, or even agnostics feel, feel screwed this nation was founded with no official religion to not make people feel upset and to allow them happiness I will not go to a school were biblical crap is taught
  • FollowTheMoney
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    @woodtick57 Creationism having been taught at all is part of history. Our Laws originated from the Judah/Christian ethic, that's part of history. The argument between Evolutionist and Creationism is part of history.
  • o
    woodtick57
    !
    @FollowTheMoney

    no. No they did not. Not at all. The laws our country were founded on were around long before your religion was invented.

    the argument between teh flat earth and the real world is part fo history, but we don't teach flat earth science any more. You see, in each of these cases, one was proved wrong.
  • o
    woodtick57
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    @FollowTheMoney See, it's people like you that don't even know about your own country that show how teaching these lies is detrimental to our national interest.
  • View all 53 replies >
  • bsking
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    maybe they should worry less about creationism, and teach their population how to get off a roof before the flood comes
  • View all 7 replies >
  • o
    Sonny
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    For once I agree with John_Matrix...But I would like to point out that it is usually the right and/or republican party that wants to put religion in schools...So for once he has rightly suggested where the so-called "indoctrination" is coming from. Well done, John...
  • John_Matrix
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    @Sonny

    Stop implying I'm a a republican because I'm not. I've never praised their actions so simply because I bash on idiot liberal democrats stop trying to paint me as one.
  • u
    norezen
    !
    Religion has played a major role in world events and what effects it has had should be taught objectively.
    There is no science to creationism but there are historical implications.
    I think religion should be an elective course in all schools and teach each of the most popular religions' beliefs.
  • John_Matrix
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    @norezen

    There is a huge difference between learning about religion and preaching it. Teaching creationism, intelligent design, etc. as a viable possibility when absolutely no evidence exists to back it up is dangerous.
  • o
    Sonny
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    @John_Matrix I did not say, nor did I imply that you are a "republican" If you were to read what I wrote you would clearly see that I said that "people from the right are the one's who generally try to force religion in our public schools"..I did not say that YOU were one of those republicans...Please take a second look and I am sure that you will see no such accusations. Hell I wouldn't want anyone to call me a "republican" either.
  • View all 6 replies >
  • Art
    !
    I guess the liberals will never learn anything. We have just had another mass killing in our country. Many are asking why. Why not? The 6th of the 10 Commandments prohibit killing, but that cannot be taught in schools, either.
    So, how are unchurched kids to know that killing is wrong when they see hour after hour of it on t.v.?
    The Supreme Court, state law makers and school boards should honor their oaths of office and support and defend the Constitution.
  • o
    woodtick57
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    yet the bible is full of examples of killing being OK. Killing people that do not believe as you do is given a huge thumbs up from your god....

    not a very good moral guidbook.
  • Zazziness
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    Guess that means you'll have to take responsibility for your children and teach them religion yourself. Maybe take them to church every Sunday. You know, that works.
  • NormalFlora
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    Do you REALLY believe that respect for the law and common ethics can only be taught if the students are under constant threat of punishment from an angry sky-demon?
  • o
    woodtick57
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    @Realthinker

    Try Deuteronomy. Great read full of orders to kill people who do not believe in your religion. Great fun for the whole family!
  • View all 53 replies >
  • u
    Synthesis
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    I still like my idea of putting all the creation stories in World History and World Geography where religion is already taught. Of course it should never be in any science class whatsoever.
  • o
    Republican5001
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    This does not suprise me about New Orleans. You are dealing with people who were obviously either too stupid to heed the warnings of the authorities to leave before Hurricane Katrina or were just being defiant. Screw New Orleans, hope they sink into the Gulf.
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    Coming from you, I must admit I'm surprized. It's as red a state as you csn find, right next to texas, i thought it might be part of your new nation...
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    @Republican5001 Well, jindal actually has some substance, and is govenor of a state, therefore has executive branch experiance. I don't support him, mind you, but he brings something to the table. Something other then pizza, that is...
  • View all 15 replies >
  • FDG
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    There is no war on Christians. You are confusing not always getting your way with an imaginary war.
  • o
    Sonny
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    That's correct! There is NO "war on Christians". Please feel free to practice your religion all you like. Just don't try to force it upon the rest of us.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    Neo, you really should try getting your news and information from at least one source other than Fox. They keep repeating that there is a "war on Christmas" over and over, and you seem to believe it. Christianity is NOT, repeat NOT, under attack. Creationism just doesn't belong in a science class, it belongs in Sunday school.
  • View all 11 replies >
  • dlw
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    I've heard and read many times that the purpose of schools were to provide a basic (K-12) education. I do not consider these areas basic. And, they are doing a piss poor job with basic education. So, why clutter the student's mind with something the people of the world will never agree on anyway. Most of us would agree that 2 + 2 = 4.
  • Bobolinsky
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    I can't find much information on this "Texas Curriculum." At least not in the monolithic form that Mary implies in her story.

    I mean... I understand that Texas enjoys an advantage of other states with the largest populations... The size of the Texas market influences some industries that have a national market but subject to a myriad of state laws. They strive to be inclusive of all markets.

    For a long time now, California has effectively set unofficial national environmental standards because manufacturers needed to meet California's requirements in order to access that market. So Texas has that influence with textbooks. So what?
  • Bobolinsky
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    There's also not much in the NYT article about the Texas Curriculum other than it appears that Texans in general prefer "abstinence-ony" sex-ed. I can't even figure out of there is a state-wide "abstinence-only" policy or whether it's just a case of local school boards having the freedom to decide for themselves and most opt for "abstinence-only."

    But that's beside the point with regards to this story... Regardless of the sex-ed issue, what does that have to do with Creationism? I admit my ignorance. I haven't read nor plan to read Gail Collins book. I can't even get through an entire column by her.

    Does Gail Collins reveal in her book that Texas requires the teaching of Creationism? Not according to NBC...

    "So is creationism actually taught in Texas public schools? And is it constitutional?"

    "Clay Robison, a spokesman for the Texas State Teachers Association, the state’s teachers’ union, says,“It is not part of the recognized official state curriculum.”

    It goes on to say that "teachers craft their lesson plan at the local level, it’s a local decision."
    http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/08/18...
  • Bobolinsky
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    Is this supposed to be the "Texas Curriculum?"

    http://www.christianbook.com/acepaces...

    Mary mentioned it in her "teaching creationism" link in her story above. Here's that link...
    http://politix.topix.com/homepage/1213-loch-n...

    It looks to me like Mary is trying to conflate Texas' entire education system with some textbook publishers that will use pseudo-science to prove their "seven 24-hour day" creation story and their belief that Earth is 10,000 years old.
  • u
    Belin
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    If a school bans Creationism(as most schools do) then they should also ban teaching evolution! When I was in tenth grade biology, when we reached the chapter on evolution, our teacher just told us to read the chapter because under the law he was to cover evolution. When we came back the next day, he handed out his test on the chapter. The test had only one question. "Did you read the chapter on evolution?". It didn't matter if we said yes or no, he gave us all 100% on the chapter. If only more teachers were like him!!!
    That was in 1987. Can you imagine how much worse it is now?
  • FDG
    !
    Why would you teach mythology but not teach actual science? This makes no sense whatsoever. We are talking about schools where facts are taught. If you want to teach superstition and mythology then they make places for that. It's called a church and it is a fine place to learn about these things.
    If you are teaching Creationism in schools, I am guessing you would be wanting to teach the Christian version of this myth? What about the children who have no religion or are not Christians? Why would we teach these children something their parents want nothing to do with?
    I KNOW (don't have to imagine) how much better it is now.
  • o
    woodtick57
    !
    If you had read the theory of evolution, you would know that it in no way precludes that life was created by any god, gods or goddesses.

    why do you try to debunk a theory you don't even understand?
  • u
    Belin
    !
    @woodtick57
    Evolution has never been able to prove how the earth came to be. They also have not proved man came from the sludge, or from apes. If we evolved from apes, why are there still apes? I do believe in adaptation of species to slowly evolve to survive their changing environments. So if the schools could stay with adaptation, that would be fine. Your not going to like my next sentence. God in his infinite wisdom allowed for these animals to adapt to their changing environments.
  • View all 92 replies >
  • o
    Sonny
    !
    Not true. People just "hate" the idea that the rest of us sometimes get forced to go along with what "Christians" claim to believe....I suppose another religion might hate Christians---But that's a "theological battle" between two or more competing beliefs... There are those of us who don't want to be "indoctrinated" (If John_Matrix, will allow me to use his favorite word)---by any religion---including christianity...So worship all you like, just please let the rest of us have the freedom to choose our own faith or none at all.
  • ASmith
    !
    Cretins...I mean, creationism is not science, it is ignorance.

    Religious bull$h!+ does not belong in a history class either, its content contradict historical records. There are dozens of writers whose work has survived 2000 years (e.g. Pliny the Elder), and NONE of them make any mention of the crap found in the buybull.
  • Politicskid
    !
    What if religious teachings are in a private institution that parents choose to send their children to? How is that any different then allowing parents to take their kids with them to church?

    Also, how in the world can you say religion doesn't belong in history class? It's fueled some of the most important conflicts in history! Look at the Middle East...at it's heart all the conflict going on over their is about religion...how can you justify not teaching kids about it? It's important they know!
  • Speedieg
    !
    I do not believe religion of any kind should be taught in public schools. Science will uncover the truth even if it's creation by a supernatural being we call God.
  • u
    CommonSense
    !
    Absolutely. BOTH

    Do we want uneducated children? Do we want our country to fail in science? The reason the US is on the cutting edge even now has more to do with immigrants being attracted to it. Do you think that will continue if America doesn't produce any scientists of its own? Look at India where many of our scientists come from and how its economy is GROWING. Soon the Indian scientists will be content to stay in India.
    It's like the Republican Party is trying to sabotage the United States. They want us to fail. There's no other explanation. Your average Republican honestly thinks he's doing right and is just naive and uninformed. But the politicians and the elite Republicans must know what they are doing. They are SELLING OUT America. They don't care because they will still be rich even if this is a third world country and if things got so bad they had to leave they'd go and live with their rich friends in CHINA.
  • JohnVicky
    !
    Sadly for some of these religious idiots it will be too little too late, and their children will grow up with a skewed belief of science. But on the flip side we might get another wonderful human like Fat Robertson, Jerry Failwell, Kent "the creationist" Hovind, or maybe a wonderful person like GW Shrub. Yeah just what the country needs more morons with their BuyBulls. It is funny and telling how most of the whacko's come from the Republican party.
  • colingm
    !
    I sure hope they also ban the religious views of Dawinism and evolutions. Lets keep science to real science not religious theories
  • Politicskid
    !
    Politix, this is a biased article. It calls the the school voucher program a "scheme", which makes it obvious which viewpoint this journalist supports. Please change that. Also, my fellow debaters, vote me up on this if you agree.

    A voucher program is in reality a great deal. It encourages competition among schools, making them better and more efficient. In addition. even though some schools are making a profit, it costs taxpayers less then a public school for each pupil.
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