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Our friends at Free Exchange on Campus have found another state legislature considering an intelligent design bill. This time, like last time, lawmakers may not know what they're voting on.

Regarding New Mexico's Senate Bill 371, jhm writes that the bill is written in such a way that "students could 'reach their own conclusions' and write 'because the Bible says so' as an answer on a New Mexico biology test, and they could not be 'penalized in any way.'"

Religious values should be respected, and religion can be discussed in public schools. (How can you learn about history without considering the impact of religious beliefs and institutions?) But intelligent design, a discredited notion that lacks scientific merit, deserves no respect and has no place in our schools.

Posted by John on February 2, 2007 11:43 AM | Permalink

Comments

I agree with John that religious values should be respected in the schools. I also believe that just as evolution is being taught in the schools, creationism should also be taught. This way students can have a broader perspective on this issue.

Posted by: williams | February 4, 2007 08:08 PM

williams,

Setting a curriculum is about what to put in and what to leave out. There are pseudoscientific theories about HIV not leading to AIDS. There are people who argue that NASA's moon landings were a hoax. Teaching about these theories, as well as ID/creationism, would push out generally accepted, evidence-based theories that deserve much more attention.

Posted by: John at AFT | February 6, 2007 10:00 AM

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The NCLB Blog was established by the AFT as a forum where public education advocates, policymakers and others can exchange information and express their opinions on NCLB and related issues. The views expressed here are not the official views of the AFT or any of its affiliates. All claims otherwise would violate the spirit and purpose of the blog. © American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. All rights reserved. Photographs and illustrations cannot be used without permission of the AFT.