In Louisiana Science Textbooks, Could Evolution Win Out Over Creationism?

by Carol Scott · 2010-11-18 05:30:00 UTC
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Despite a battle waged over high school science textbooks in Louisiana by creationist advocates who criticized the books' inclusion of evolution, it looks like Louisiana students may be allowed to learn about evolution with no disclaimers, sidebars or long explorations of the theory of intelligent design.

A state advisory panel voted 8-4 last week to approve new high school life science books, which will now go on to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to approve in December. It's a victory that the Louisiana Coalition for Science and other advocates are celebrating as progress in the continuing culture wars over science education in the state.

Louisiana is infamous for its passage of the Science Education Act (LSEA) in 2008, which allows local school boards to approve classroom materials that criticize evolution, global warming and human cloning. (American students rank 21st out of 30 developed countries when it comes to science literacy. Somehow, I don't think those supplemental materials will be helpful.)

What do evolution, global warming and human cloning have in common? They all become frequent rallying cries for politicians and religious groups. Education, to these activists, becomes less about equipping students to function in the world and more about controlling what they learn.

To prove that this latest controversy wasn't really about science at all, take a look at one of the most vocal opponents of the books - the Louisiana Family Forum, which bills itself as a “voice for traditional families in Louisiana.” The group goes on to state that "it is our mission to persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family."

I don't know about you, but if I'm picking a science textbook, I might want to listen to, well, a scientist. Kevin Carman, dean of the Louisiana State University College of Science, was on the side of the proposed books, the Louisiana Advocate reported. “There is no major research university in this country that teaches intelligent design or anything like that. It is simply not science,” he said. “We need our textbooks to be focused on what is scientifically accurate and not religion.” 

Students, teachers and professors testified in favor of the books, saying that the fact that evolution was included in textbooks was even an issue was "embarrassing." Looks like Louisiana students may be free to learn about science without getting scorched in the culture wars. 

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Photo credit: Kevin Dooley via Flickr

Carol Scott is the Education Editor for Change.org.
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