The US: Backward Nation?
Comments: 2
New Scientist picks up on one possible effect of the Supreme Court’s school voucher ruling allowing public funds for religious education: fewer students will learn about evolution!
“Creationist victory” in US Supreme Court
Debora MacKenzie, New ScientistBut the decision will mean that even fewer US children will be taught evolution. Repeated attempts since the 1920s by Christian fundamentalists in the US to ban the teaching of evolution in public schools, or at least mandate teaching the biblical account of creation as well, have been defeated in court on the grounds that teaching religion in a state-funded school violates the separation of church and state.
Private schools are under no such restriction. So creationists have turned their efforts towards expanding private schooling. The voucher scheme is widely supported by Christian right wing organizations. One Cleveland voucher school states that “the one cardinal objective of education to which all others point is to develop devotion to God as our Creator”.
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Posted to General Rants • 2002.06.29 (Sat) • 00:34
Comments
Posted by Derek 2002.06.22, 21:40
On the topic of non-native pests in Australia, take a look at Tim Low’s “Feral Future”. 350 pages of horror stories of exotic animals and plants, and the damage they’re causing to the Australian environment. I haven’t seen it in Japan (I picked it up at Brisbane Airport) and I’m not finished yet, but it’s a bleak read.
Posted by jh 2002.06.23, 01:42
Ye gods! That does sound like a bleak read (and yes, I can easily imagine it taking 350 pages).
I met a friend from New Zealand last night who told me that next week NZ will hold an election the central issue of which is the introduction of GM crops to the country. Didn’t have time to track down any info on this today but will try to get some background.
-jh
By the way, Derek, if you and I have a mutual friend named Kia who recently returned to Colorado, please get in touch! I don’t think I have your e-mail address.
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