Kentucky Secular Society

Here is yet another issue for secular Kentuckians to know about and discuss with their Legislators in February. As seen in other states such as Louisiana, a Kentucky legislator has introduced a so-called "academic freedom" bill seeking to discredit the scientific account of life on earth.

From the National Center for Science Education:

Kentucky's House Bill 169 would, if enacted, allow teachers to "use, as permitted by the local school board, other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner." Dubbed the Kentucky Science Education and Intellectual Freedom Act, HB 169 was introduced in the Kentucky House of Representives on January 4, 2011; the sole sponsor of the bill is Tim Moore (R-District 26).

Here is the text of the bill.

AN ACT relating to science education and intellectual freedom.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

(1) Teachers, principals, and other school administrators are encouraged to create and foster an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of scientific theories being studied.

(2) After a teacher has taught the content related to scientific theories contained in textbooks and instructional materials included on the approved lists required under KRS 156.433 and 156.435, a teacher may use, as permitted by the local school board, other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner.

(3) This section shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.

(4) This section may be cited as the Kentucky Science Education and Intellectual Freedom Act.

If you have followed the history of bills and trials involving evolution education, you will be aware that the "advantages and disadvantages of scientific theories" is the latest in code words for creationists to try to cast doubt on evolution while sounding reasonable and constitutional. If you're not familiar with the history of challenges against evolution education, the NCSE has provided a quick primer here: http://ncse.com/taking-action/facing-challenges-to-evolution-education.

You can read the rest of the NCSE article about House Bill 169 here: http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/antievolution-legislation-kentucky-006389