Bruce VanWyngarden
with the Tennessee General Assembly’s latest bone-headed move. According to VanWyngarden, editor of the Memphis Flyer, the House has passed a bill that overturns the verdict of an 86-year-old court case.
The bill in question, HB 0368, “protects a teacher from discipline for teaching scientific subjects in an objective manner,” and was passed by a vote of 70 to 28.
According to the legislation’s two pages, the General Assembly seeks to create “an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that encourages students to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about controversial issues.” The policy “shall not be construed to promote any religious or non-religious doctrine” and permits teachers to “help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught.”
Which ancient court case was “overturned” by this House action?
The Scopes “Monkey” Trial, of course.
But, wait, didn’t that case deal with a law that banned the objective teaching of a scientific theory, in favor of a prevailing religious doctrine? And didn’t that case result in the conviction of the ACLU’s hand-picked defendant, John Scopes (later set aside on a technicality)?
In other words, the legislation overturns a court case in which an instructor was convicted for teaching evolution? So it’s a win for objective teaching, scientific inquiry, and freedom of thought? That’s good, right?
Apparently not. VanWyngarden says the bill allows “creationism to be taught in public schools” while simultaneously being merely “a symbolic gesture, meant to appease the rubes and the GOP’s far-right base.” VanWyngarden calls its backers (including a third of the Democratic caucus who joined all but one Republican in voting yes) “morons” and “neanderthals.”
Perhaps instead of ensuring objectivity in science classrooms, the General Assembly should spend some time addressing the stunning historical illiteracy and general incompetence of alt-weekly journalists. A few remedial courses in science, economics, history, philosophy and civics might go a long way.
By the way, here are those Democratic morons and neaderthals:
Democrats who voted for HB 0368