Biology, Right?

When you hear "biology class", you'd think kids would be learning about science, right? 

Well, not if they're in school in Oklahoma. A new, ALEC-sponsored "academic freedom" bill in that state would ban teachers from penalizing students who turn in papers that attempt to debunk evolution or climate change. And ALEC is behind similar legislation being considered in Colorado and Arizona as well. According to Mother Jones, Oklahoma's "HB 1674 is the latest in an ongoing series of "academic freedom" bills aimed at watering down the teaching of science on highly charged topics." Republican State Representative Gus Blackwell, who spent 20 years working for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, says he introduced the bill because, "there are teachers and students who may be afraid of going against what they see in their textbooks." The American Legislative Exchange Council bill proposes that students and teachers should be able to question the "scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses" of topics like evolution, global warming, and human cloning. It's no wonder that our nation is 17th in education among developed countries. Perhaps Mr. Blackwell should go back to working in religious organizations, and let teachers decide what constitutes actual education.