The Daily Star's report regarding Sen. Ben Nevers' Louisiana Academic Freedom Bill, which was drafted at the request of Louisiana Family Forum Action, unfortunately contained factual errors which we would like to correct.
Neither the Academic Freedom Act nor its companion, the 2006 Ouachita Parish School Board's Science Curriculum Policy Resolution, would protect the teaching of creationism.
Senator Nevers himself has publicly stated that it "would be unfair to label his bill as one that would pave the way for the
teaching of creationism."
This bill is not about teaching creationism or religion. If one reads the language of his bill, it is clear that it simply permits teachers "to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught."
In 2002, Nevers was a vocal critic of the state's approval of textbooks with widely-known errors. He even introduced legislation (HCR 50, 2003) encouraging local school systems "to refrain from purchasing textbooks that do not provide students with opportunities to learn that there are differing scientific views on certain controversial issues in science."
It is therefore no surprise that Senator Nevers — now chairman of the Senate Education Committee and recent Jindal appointee to the Southern Regional Education Advisory Council — presently aims to foster an environment within Louisiana schools that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of the scientific strengths and weaknesses of Darwinism.
Ironically, even the ACLU and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State agree with both Senator Nevers and Louisiana Family Forum Action that "any genuinely scientific evidence for or against any explanation of life may be taught."
Clearly, Senator Nevers' legislative intent is to promote academic freedom to teach science- — the kind of learning environment that produces thoughtful, engaging and highly-skilled workers — just what Louisiana needs to train and retain so that our state can compete in the decades ahead.
Gene Mills, executive director of the Louisiana Family Forum Action, Baton Rouge
Chris Ockman wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:31 AM:
I personally, think that the whole idea is a bit naive, but as long as you don't smear feces over the face of science, you can have your metaphysical
father figure. "