Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:16 PM

Oklahoma: Insist That People Coexisted With Dinosaurs…and Get an A in Science Class! [View all]

Intelligence is so elitist.

In biology class, public school students can't generally argue that dinosaurs and people ran around Earth at the same time, at least not without risking a big fat F. But that could soon change for kids in Oklahoma: On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Common Education committee is expected to consider a House bill that would forbid teachers from penalizing students who turn in papers attempting to debunk almost universally accepted scientific theories such as biological evolution and anthropogenic (human-driven) climate change.

Gus Blackwell, the Republican state representative who introduced the bill, insists that his legislation has nothing to do with religion; it simply encourages scientific exploration. "I proposed this bill because there are teachers and students who may be afraid of going against what they see in their textbooks," says Blackwell, who previously spent 20 years working for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. "A student has the freedom to write a paper that points out that highly complex life may not be explained by chance mutations."

Stated another way, students could make untestable, faith-based claims in science classes without fear of receiving a poor mark.

HB 1674 is the latest in an ongoing series of "academic freedom" bills aimed at watering down the teaching of science on highly charged topics. Instead of requiring that teachers and textbooks include creationism—see the bill proposed by Missouri state Rep. Rick Brattin—HB 1674's crafters say it merely encourages teachers and students to question, as the bill puts it, the "scientific strengths and weaknesses" of topics that "cause controversy," including "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/02/oklahoma-hr1674-science-evolution-climate-change

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123 replies	Author	Time	Post
Oklahoma: Insist That People Coexisted With Dinosaurs…and Get an A in Science Class! [View all]	Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin	Feb 19	OP
Is Blackwell even aware that some OK students would eventually like to get into good colleges? nt	MrScorpio	Feb 19	#1
They can't all go to Liberty University, can they?...nt	SidDithers	Feb 19	#3
Problem solved, locally:	naaman fletcher	Feb 20	#71
seems like he's far more interested in making sure they attend an approved church	0rganism	Feb 20	#86
He doesn't want them in good colleges.	ballaratocker	Feb 21	#98
Dumbasses...`	SidDithers	Feb 19	#2
This post was hidden by jury decision.	OceanEcosystem	Feb 19	#4
No. A science paper is graded on the understanding of the science in the paper...	SidDithers	Feb 19	#8
Court has ruled in the Dover case that creationism isn't science	Tempest	Feb 20	#78
Dover was a great ruling...	SidDithers	Feb 20	#79
Did you really just write that?	trumad	Feb 19	#9
I also said, "Well supported". Being well-articulate alone isn't enough.	OceanEcosystem	Feb 19	#13
"well-supported"	trumad	Feb 19	#16
"Well supported" as in: "Derrrrr ... Gawd done sed it in the book he done rited!"	Arugula Latte	Feb 19	#18
I love arguing with Creationist....	trumad	Feb 19	#20
Also a wee bit depressing.	Arugula Latte	Feb 19	#21
Sigh is the right expression for sure.	trumad	Feb 19	#23
I think that was the point,	gejohnston	Feb 21	#97
That's what I got from the message.	xmas74	Feb 21	#104
Do you understand there is a difference between Scientific Theory and common theory	Bandit	Feb 19	#26
Gravity is Just a Theory	kiri	Feb 20	#68
Gravity consisntently kills those that don't believe in it. And many that do.	Ikonoklast	Feb 20	#80
Newtowian mechanics explained gravity quite well for hundreds of years before Einstein	xtraxritical	Feb 20	#89
Einsteins's theory of gravity did NOT replace Newton's theory, it includes Newton's theory. nt	Bernardo de La Paz	Feb 21	#109
It is impossible to make a scientifically "well supported" argument for	BeeBee	Feb 19	#31
There is no evidence to support creationism.	Apophis	Feb 19	#50
If they can pull it off, forget the grade, they will be looking at a Nobel Prize n/t	Demo_Chris	Feb 20	#58
Even Behe, ON THE STAND under oath admitted creationism isn't science.	AtheistCrusader	Feb 20	#73
anyone who wastes a science teacher's time with 7 pages of creationist wank deserves an F	0rganism	Feb 20	#88
Well, then that student can get an F+ instead of an F...	JHB	Feb 21	#100
If creationism is to be taught side by side	Shadowflash	Feb 21	#106
Even "professional" creationists	skepticscott	Feb 22	#119
Creationist douchebaggery, no matter how well articulated or written	jpak	Feb 19	#11
That's not how science works	TrogL	Feb 19	#12
former Priest	midwest irish	Feb 21	#116
Good luck finding a scientifically supported case for creationism in a high school science report	LonePirate	Feb 19	#15
My daughter asked me what "imaginary numbers" were	Nevernose	Feb 19	#53
Somebody brought that up in an argument in favour of Biblical literalism	TrogL	Feb 22	#122
OR for an English Professor.	Volaris	Feb 20	#76
"Evolutionist view" ... Uh, you mean "the view" of 99.99999999999 percent of all legit scientists?	Arugula Latte	Feb 19	#17
You're comparing apples and oranges. n/t.	OceanEcosystem	Feb 19	#25
"Apples" as in the apple that the first woman on the planet ate, you know, 4,000-6,000	Arugula Latte	Feb 19	#34
LOL	dlwickham	Feb 19	#45
bzzzt. gigantic fail. Science is fact based and fantasy	cali	Feb 19	#24
You gotta be kidding me...	nadinbrzezinski	Feb 19	#33
This has to be sarcasm!	Walk away	Feb 19	#35
You're joking, right?	GoneOffShore	Feb 19	#38
"Academic freedom" = the right to be ignorant. The Stupid Party strikes again!	LeftinOH	Feb 19	#5
Remember about 7 or 8 years ago	midwest irish	Feb 21	#117
The ignorant Oklahoma Legislature	redstatebluegirl	Feb 19	#6
and apples are the fruit of the devil	Angry Dragon	Feb 19	#7
The great scientists of our past looked outside the theories and laws of their times.	backtoblue	Feb 19	#10
But how can you support evidence that does not exist?	trumad	Feb 19	#19
Very true	backtoblue	Feb 19	#29
You belittle them by giving them an F for bullshit.	trumad	Feb 19	#30
You really need to take a science class	Blecht	Feb 20	#62
I believe that Pi = 3, as stated in the Bible.	Ikonoklast	Feb 20	#82
Is that in the Book of Armaments?	Throckmorton	Feb 21	#102
It's a theory about evolution called "natural selection" thru mutation.	xtraxritical	Feb 20	#90
That totally backwards. Anyone who can "prove their thoughts" pro creationism deserves a Nobel prize	Bernardo de La Paz	Feb 21	#110
I didn't say that they could prove it. I said they should try to if that's what they believe.	backtoblue	Feb 21	#112
They can try all they want. They will still get a richly deserved F.	Bernardo de La Paz	Feb 21	#113
I believe rainbow-sparkle unicorns exist. My source? My own ass. I pulled that theory out of it.	Arugula Latte	Feb 19	#36
Evolution is Not a religion	kiri	Feb 20	#69
You should make this it's own post!	Marrah_G	Feb 20	#75
ALEC sponsored legislation...they're doing it in other states...phuckers...knr	joeybee12	Feb 19	#14
This is just more batshit insane legislation that doesn't stand a chance.	cali	Feb 19	#22
I don't have an issue with students not accepting everything they're being taught in science class	hughee99	Feb 19	#27
Creationism is not not not a scientific viewpoint.	Occulus	Feb 19	#43
If a student wants to bang his head against the wall trying to prove creationism	hughee99	Feb 19	#48
No, creationism has an invisible deity as a component, which is by definition unprovable.	Occulus	Feb 19	#49
Then let the student realize that for themselves.	hughee99	Feb 20	#56
When did the American Taliban take over our schools?	Initech	Feb 19	#28
Sure, why the fuck not!?!?!	Rex	Feb 19	#32
Let's not forget Vampires and werewolves	Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin	Feb 19	#41
A kick for more eyes on OK and its craziness. nt	riderinthestorm	Feb 19	#37
If this is science education in Oklahoma, better check to see where your Doctor is from--the SOONER	kairos12	Feb 19	#39
Not to nitpick with the thread title,	OceanEcosystem	Feb 19	#40
They should be getting F's for advocating "creationism"	GoneOffShore	Feb 19	#42
Well, in a biology course, they should...	Blue_Tires	Feb 19	#44
Creationism is completely and utterly unverifiable nonsense based on a fictional work	kestrel91316	Feb 19	#46
in a Science Class it should	JI7	Feb 19	#47
Wow... just...wow.	Apophis	Feb 19	#51
Actually the Democrats in Congress are trying to coexist with dinosaurs, but the dinosaurs are an	still_one	Feb 19	#52
If only a targeted meteorite would take them out ...	Arugula Latte	Feb 20	#54
There is plenty of photographic evidence proving this theory.	Nye Bevan	Feb 20	#55
Gee I wish I could have received an A for whatever I believed was a correct answer on exams.	Lint Head	Feb 20	#57
That's like giving students an A in "Abstinence Only" class, for having sex on a desk.	Warren DeMontague	Feb 20	#59
If this passes you will see some hillarious "science" papers. n/t	Demo_Chris	Feb 20	#60
lol	Notafraidtoo	Feb 20	#61
They are encouraging and rewarding	MynameisBlarney	Feb 20	#63
Of course humans and dinosaurs co-existed. I have proof.	Fla Dem	Feb 20	#64
More proof?	Bernardo de La Paz	Feb 20	#65
Jesus said: "Let the little Sinosauropteryx and Microceratops come to me, and forbid them not,	Arugula Latte	Feb 20	#83
He also said.....	trusty elf	Feb 21	#99
Flintstones - who's the green guy????	Manifestor_of_Light	Feb 20	#85
That's the Great Gazoo	LibertyLover	Feb 20	#87
Where Oklahoma Common Education Committee fits into the grand scheme of things:	Bernardo de La Paz	Feb 20	#66
It's pasta, all the way down	IDemo	Feb 20	#67
RAmen! n/t	RoccoR5955	Feb 20	#94
Will they be able to use episodes of "The Flintstones" or Jim Henson's "Dinosaurs" as references?	rwsanders	Feb 20	#70
They probably got their ideas from the Ica stones of Peru....	OldDem2012	Feb 20	#72
If I were A Kid in an Oklahoma History Class	Wolf Frankula	Feb 20	#74
"...afraid of going against what they see in their textbooks"	Ezlivin	Feb 20	#77
k & r	stuntcat	Feb 20	#81
Lewis Black on creationism:	Manifestor_of_Light	Feb 20	#84
oklahoma:	blkmusclmachine	Feb 20	#91
Well, I'm moving to Oklahoma!	Stonepounder	Feb 20	#92
Academic freedom doesn't mean a student can put wrong answers on a test and still get credit.	yellowcanine	Feb 20	#93
Once again another state attempts to prove that ignorance can be taught	Major Nikon	Feb 20	#95
Oh the Humanity!	triplepoint	Feb 20	#96
That's what made the Dark Ages bearable	Turbineguy	Feb 21	#101
This is child abuse.	mwb970	Feb 21	#103
Careful...on the religion board	skepticscott	Feb 22	#120
Does electricity still flow from positive to negative? nt.	MrYikes	Feb 21	#105
Welcome to Costco	damnedifIknow	Feb 21	#107
I guess the GOP didn't get Jindal's memo...	iandhr	Feb 21	#108
Sharing far and wide. thanks for letting us know about this. Unbe-effing-believable. nt	stevenleser	Feb 21	#111
It would do less damage to these kids if they just stopped teaching altogether. nt	Ed Suspicious	Feb 21	#114
Let'em watch The Flinstones for their science, it would be right up their alley,,,,	benld74	Feb 21	#115
What really weirds me out about this is...	fromwyoming	Feb 22	#118
The earth is flat and the sun revolves around it	The Flaming Red Head	Feb 22	#121
Yet more evidence of fundamentalism's danger to education..	YoungDemCA	Feb 22	#123