Louisiana counts the cost of teaching creationism – in reputation and dollars

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/01/louisiana-cost-teaching-creationism


Louisiana State University's former graduate dean of science, Kevin Carman, says: 'teaching pseudo-science drives scientists away.' Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal endorsed teaching creationism in public schools, by way of the state's creationism law, a misnamed and misguided piece of legislation called the Louisiana Science Education Act. In a recent interview with NBC News, Jindal said:

"Let's teach them about intelligent design … What are we scared of?"

Governor Jindal, we are scared of the harm to Louisiana students and to our state. The Louisiana Science Education Act has already hurt our economy.

The chairman of Louisiana's senate education committee, Conrad Appel, has called for high schools and colleges to graduate more students in Stem fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), because "the amount of income [students] can earn in these related fields is best." Teaching students that creationism is science will confuse them about the scientific method and the nature of science, which, in turn, will hold them back from getting jobs in any cutting-edge scientific field.

We can't teach students misleading lessons that blur the lines between rigorous fact and religious belie

[Walk away]

1. My high school age neices have a running joke about "jobs you can't do...

...if you believe in creationism". The list gets longer all of the time. Archeologist, Geologist, Astronomer, Biologist etc.

[hobbit709]

2. Engineer, doctor.

[Walk away]

4. Yes but how can we explain Crazy Ben Carson?

The fact that he is a creationist really bothers me. I view it as a form of insanity. Especially in people who are highly educated and should know better. He is supposed to be a big time surgeon but I would choose another doctor if I needed one. There is something scary about that kind of disconnect.

[geek tragedy]

3. States like Louisiana specialize in exporting their intelligent high school graduates. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. It's one reason states like Louisiana stay like Louisiana. nt

[geek tragedy]

6. And they act like it's something to be proud of. nt