Science:
The Tennessee House of Representatives voted 7028
yesterday to pass a bill that will protect teachers from
discipline if they "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, (such as)
biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global
warming, and human cloning." While the bill contains verbiage
stating that its intent is not to promote any particular
religious doctrine, the general consensus among both opponents
and supporters of the bill is that it would allow public-school
teachers to teach intelligent design as a scientifically valid
alternative to evolution. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Bill Dunn, a
Republican from Knoxville, said it was designed to promote
critical thinking. The Tennessee Science Teachers Association,
the National Center for Science Education, and the American
Association for the Advancement of Science have all expressed
opposition to the bill.
