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Louisiana Legislature Passes Controversial Science Education Act

By Howard M. Friedman

AP reports that the Louisiana Senate yesterday, by a vote of 36-0, passed and sent to the governor for his signature SB 733, the Louisiana Science Education Act. The bill provides that the state board of education shall, upon request from a local school board, assist schools in promoting "critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories being studied including, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning." The bill goes on to provide however that this "shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion."

The bill says teachers may use materials to supplement standard textbooks to the extent permitted by the local school board. In a report last week, the Advocate quoted the House sponsor as saying that language added in the House would prevent "any kind of crazy materials from being thrown in there" to supplement textbooks. Americans United last week issued a release saying that if the new law is used to promote religion in Louisiana public schools, it will take legal action. AU fears that supplemental materials used will be anti-evolution books and DVDs created by fundamentalist Christian ministries.

Presumably Gov. Bobby Jindal will sign the bill since he told a Face the Nation interviewer on Sunday that he believes local school boards should decide curricular matters, and that both evolution and intelligent design should be taught. (Full text of interview.) Pressed on his own views on creationism, Jindal said as a Christian, he believes that God played a role in creating the earth and mankind.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 17, 2008 (boomark / email).