Activist Post: New Bill Incites Fears of “Fringe” Beliefs in Schools

“The backlash inspired by this proposed bill is indicative of how desperate the education establishment is to not allow any questioning of evolution, the global warming scam or any other pet dogmas. The indoctrination program must be maintained with no opposing views allowed. This is the sad state of education we now have.” Admin

Upon first reading reports of an “anti-science” and “muzzling” bill, you could easily get the impression that “mum’s the word” for any further discussion on science/health topics like GMOs, vaccines, climate change, raw milk etc. One recent report accidentally left out a crucial word that changes the entire meaning of Virginia House Bill 207, sponsored by Richard P. “Dickie” Bell (R-Staunton).

When reading the bill, it appears to lift a muzzle and encourage more analysis – why is that making people so angry? It’s receiving all kinds of backlash from local media, teachers and educational organizations. The flak focuses on what they view as a move to push creationism into schools.

Turns out, the real fear is, “fringe” beliefs seeping into the classroom.

Here is the section in question:

C. Neither the Board nor any local school board, division superintendent, or school board employee shall prohibit any public elementary or secondary school teacher from helping students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in science classes.Furthermore, neither to “to promote or discriminate against any religious or nonreligious doctrine, promote or discriminate against a particular set of religious beliefs or nonbeliefs, or promote or discriminate against religion or nonreligion.”

Not exactly a call to take the classroom to the Creation Museum … But as ridiculous as that sounds, opponents are fearing that other teachers will undermine “real” science by openly teaching “fringe” beliefs like “climate change denying” or anti-evolution, and no one can stop them from teaching their “bad” science.

Glenn Branch, Deputy Director of the National Center for Science Education, said