Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Chicken Run
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Naturally, the Discovery Institute is upset, as Ohio was its first real success and having even "Intelligent Design lite" in the form of "critical analysis" thrown out in the wake of Judge Jones’ decision in Dover must be as depressing for them as it is heartening for anyone who cares about good science education in America.
As the New York Times (may need free registration) reports the Discovery Institute’s reaction:
Running around in circles like Gallus domesticus sans crania is so undignified.
As you have probably already heard (if this blog is at all interesting to you), Ohio’s Board of Education voted 11 to 4 Tuesday to immediately repeal both its benchmark requiring critical analysis of evolution and the approved model lesson plan for teaching critical analysis of evolution, both of which were adopted in 2002 when Ohio became the first state in the nation to single out evolution for special scrutiny. Since then, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and Pennsylvania have adopted similar "critical analysis" standards, and South Carolina’s Board of Education is scheduled to vote next month on a similar proposal. A committee of the Ohio Board will study the issue to see if some substitute should be adopted but for the time being the model lesson plan and benchmark are out.
Naturally, the Discovery Institute is upset, as Ohio was its first real success and having even "Intelligent Design lite" in the form of "critical analysis" thrown out in the wake of Judge Jones’ decision in Dover must be as depressing for them as it is heartening for anyone who cares about good science education in America.
As the New York Times (may need free registration) reports the Discovery Institute’s reaction:
"It's an outrageous slap in the face to the citizens of Ohio," said John G. West, associate director of the Center for Science and Culture at the institute, referring to several polls that show public support for criticism of evolution in science classes. "The effort to try to suppress ideas that you dislike, to use the government to suppress ideas you dislike, has a failed history," Mr. West said. "Do they really want to be on the side of the people who didn't want to let John Scopes talk or who tried to censor Galileo?"I’ve already mentioned the attempt by creationists to dress themselves up in Galileo drag but it’s pretty sad when, in the same breath, you appeal to the majority support your beliefs enjoy and claim that democratic government is oppressing you.
Running around in circles like Gallus domesticus sans crania is so undignified.
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