Louisiana fights evolution with "academic freedom"

Louisiana has passed a law that allows local school boards to choose "supplemental classroom materials" to critique certain scientific theories. The scientific theories that will be open to critique include but are not limited to "evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning." The bill has been signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal. Interestingly, Governor Jindal studied biology at Brown; his former genetics professor sent him a plea to veto the bill. Not surprisingly, this law has generated both strong criticism and support.

"The bill has been opposed by every scientific society that has voiced a position on it, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science. AAAS CEO Alan Leshner warned that the bill would "unleash an assault against scientific integrity, leaving students confused about science and unprepared to excel in a modern workforce.""

"Lining up to promote the bill were a coalition of religious organizations and Seattle's pro-Intelligent Design think tank, the Discovery Institute. According to the Louisiana Science Coalition, Discovery fellows helped write the bill and arranged for testimony in its favor in the legislature. The bill itself plays directly into Discovery's strategy, freeing local schools to "use supplemental textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner.""

Original story.