A Mississippi lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require textbooks to include a disclaimer describing evolution as a “controversial theory” and advising students to keep an “open mind” to other explanations for the origin of life.
Rep. Gary Chism introduced the legislation, House Bill 25, earlier this month. The bill has been referred to two committees, Education and Judiciary A.
The proposal, if enacted, would require the State Board of Education to include the 200-word disclaimer on the inside front cover of textbooks that include evolution topics.
“The word ‘theory’ has many meanings, including: systematically organized knowledge; abstract reasoning; a speculative idea or plan; or a systematic statement of principles,” the opening paragraph of the bill states. “Scientific theories are based on both observations of the natural world and assumptions about the natural world. They are always subject to change in view of new and confirmed observations.”
“This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things. No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life’s origins should be considered a theory,” the proposal continues.
# 100 bobbo said, “Paddy–so your concept of infinite time is measured in the trillions huh?”
You’re babbling again. Drink more coffee.
BTW, time really doesn’t exist. We seem to perceive it, that’s all.
Discalculia: Why some people can’t put two and two together.
Explains a lot. Every 6 months or so I see another item about how so much is driven by our genetics.
I have read some about various “centers” now modules about various things and it seems they are becoming more narrowly defined taking in more social phenomenon seen as more general and diffuse.
Makes me wonder if there is a god module?
http://newscientist.com/article/mg20126921.700-why-some-people-cant-put-two-and-two-together.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
#99 – Paddy-trOll,
Something tells me they’ve underestimated the age by a few trillion years.
Something tells you that. But, it’s not science. It’s your own misfiring neurons.
Science, for those who care about pesky things like evidence, has a pretty tight bracket on that now. It’s 13.73 billion plus or minus 120 million at most.
Here’s another link you won’t click because you’re a troll.
http://tinyurl.com/22chwu
#102 – bobbo,
Dang. That sounds like a good article. Unfortunately, I think a subscription is required to read it.
# 103 Misanthropic Scott said, “Science, for those who care about pesky things like evidence, has a pretty tight bracket on that now. It’s 13.73 billion plus or minus 120 million at most.”
Oh, I’m not saying it lacks evidence. I just think as we get more & more advanced ability to examine the universe the estimates will continue to be revised upward. This has been the case since the age has been attempted to be determined.
Scott–I don’t pay for nutting, so try this home page, the link is there
http://newscientist.com/
#105 – Paddy-trOll,
Oh, I’m not saying it lacks evidence. I just think as we get more & more advanced ability to examine the universe the estimates will continue to be revised upward. This has been the case since the age has been attempted to be determined.
Then, what your misfiring neurons have failed to notice is the dramatic shrinking of the error bars around the time frame. We’ve been at 13.7 billion years now for at least a decade. The error bars keep shrinking around that time frame. I think it highly unlikely that the estimate will change dramatically now, almost certainly not by two orders of magnitude.
Notice, if you can, that the error bars now put the number within less than 1% of the current estimate. This is what happens as technology improves and gives more methods of checking and greater accuracy. Oh wait. I forgot, you don’t actually understand science and technology, do you?
#88, Not a big one
bobbo the monkey muffin
Now that is rich.
hahahahaha,
Sorry Bobbo, I can’t help but laugh. The next time I get pissed at you I just might use it. But, I will with a twinkle in my eye.
The movement is to make sure that people understand that fact that, like most ‘theories’ of the text books, they are just that, ‘theories’. You go through the ‘facts’ and ‘theories’ and ‘beliefs’, then you choose what you wish to base your life and focus on. Free world, free choices. Why is there discrimination against none but those who are religious?
Believe it or not, many religious people are those that have looked over all the evidence and even are the scientists. Spite them not if they don’t see that it’s concrete.
I’m saddened to see JCD call Mississippians “not dumb enough” for this action. I’ve lost a lot of respect for that.
i know most of you who made previous comments are probably not reading this but as one of the members bringing the bill to our rep. i am amazed that there is so much misunderstanding out there, this warning is not saying which theory is right and which is wrong it only states that evolution is a theory and that the reader should not take it as fact, but keep their mind open to other theories as well.