2012-01-27 "Indiana Republicans Push Creationism In Public Schools" by Jessica Pieklo
[http://www.care2.com/causes/indiana-republicans-push-creationism-in-public-schools.html]
Republicans continue to parade their disdain for science all over state houses nationwide. This time it’s Indiana and the topic is creationism after an Indiana Senate panel approved a bill that would allow creationism to be taught in Indiana’s public schools [http://www.ibj.com/senate-panel-oks-creationism-teaching-bill/PARAMS/article/32182].
 The Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee voted 8-2 on Wednesday to send the creationism in public schools bill to the full Senate for consideration. The bill allows schools to authorize “the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life” and specifically mentions “creation science” as one such theory.
The bill advanced despite opposition from both the scientific and religious communities who pleaded with legislators to keep religion out of science classrooms. Purdue University professor of chemistry John Staver told the panel evolution is the only theory of life’s origins that relies on scientific investigations. He says creationism “is unquestionably a statement of a specific religion.”
If the religious community is split on whether or not teaching creationism the science curriculum in public schools is a good idea, don’t you think that’s a pretty good indication that it is not a good idea? And it’s not even as though critics are challenging the idea of creationism in schools in general. They are simply objecting to placing it in the science curriculum where students learn about the scientific process. If the theory to be taught can fit within this process then it deserves a place in the sciences. If it can’t then let the philosophy and humanities instructors deal with it.