Wow! This story just blew my mind:
The school board for Orleans Parish in Louisiana voted Tuesday night to ban the teaching of creationism as science and what they called a “revisionist” history curriculum promoted by the state of Texas.
This is a big deal. A very big deal. And it’s an icepick in the face of Christian evangelical nutjobs(especially in Texas) pushing creationist “Intelligent Design” garbage into classrooms.
The first policy change pertains to the selection of textbooks. “No history textbook shall be approved which has been adjusted in accordance with the State of Texas revisionist guidelines nor shall any science textbook be approved which presents creationism or intelligent design as science or scientific theories,” it reads.
The second policy change prohibits teachers from taking the matter into their own hands. “No teacher of any discipline of science shall teach any aspect of religious faith as science or in a science class,” it reads. “No teacher of any discipline of science shall teach creationism or intelligent design in classes designated as science classes.”
Wow. I’m speechless. Good on you, Orleans Parish! Texas because of its size traditionally has a major influence on what pupils get to read in their school textbooks in the whole of the US, and this rejection of creationist and revisionist garbage is quite astounding. Needs more of the same. And will probably give the creationist-friendly governor Bobby Jindal a coronary.
