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NEWS
School Board might OK teaching creationism

* By VIC COUVILLION
* Special to The Advocate
* Published: Jul 24, 2010 - Page: 4B

LIVINGSTON â?? The Livingston Parish School Board will begin exploring the possibility of incorporating the teaching of â??creationismâ? in the public school systemâ??s science classes. During the boardâ??s meeting Thursday, several board members expressed an interest in the teaching of creationism, an alternative to the study of the theory of evolution, in Livingston Parish public school classrooms.

The discussion came up during a report on the pupil progression plan for the 2010-11 school year, delivered by Jan Benton, director of curriculum. Benton said that under provisions of the Science Education Act enacted last year by the Louisiana Legislature, schools can present what she termed â??critical thinking and creationismâ? in science classes.

Board Member David Tate quickly responded: â??We let them teach evolution to our children, but I think all of us sitting up here on this School Board believe in creationism. Why canâ??t we get someone with religious beliefs to teach creationism?â? Fellow board member Clint Mitchell responded, â??I agree â?¦ you donâ??t have to be afraid to point out some of the fallacies with the theory of evolution. Teachers should have the freedom to look at creationism and find a way to get it into the classroom.â?

Board President Keith Martin, while reminding the members that a decision had been made in the past not to teach creationism, suggested that now might be the time to re-examine the issue. Martin said that one problem with the teaching of creationism versus evolution is that, â??You donâ??t want two different teachers teaching two different things.â?

Martin, noting that discipline of young people is constantly becoming more of a challenge for parents and teachers, agreed: â??Maybe itâ??s time that we look at this.â? When Martin suggested that the board appoint a committee to study the possibility of introducing creationism into the classroom, his opinion met with general, if unofficial approval.

â??We shouldnâ??t just jump into this thing, but we do need to look at it,â? Martin said. â??The American Civil Liberties Union and even some of our principals would not be pleased with us, but we shouldnâ??t worry about the ACLU. Itâ??s more important that we do the correct thing for the children we educate.â?

The board then unanimously endorsed Bentonâ??s Progression Plan.

Before the vote, Benton presented some highlights of the lengthy document.

She told the board that for the coming school year 177 days of instruction are scheduled for all schools.

Kindergarten through eighth-grade students are expected to attend a minimum of 167 of those days, leaving each student with 10 days of unexcused absences.

The academic year for high schools is divided into two 83.5 day semesters and students are allowed five unexcused absences per semester.

Students who aspire to follow a career diploma track will have to meet a long list of requirements this year, Benton explained. She said that parents who wish to enroll their children in the career diploma program must approve of the application.

A studentâ??s behavior record will also be one of the criteria examined before entrance into the program is approved.

At the same meeting, the board voted unanimously to name Alvin Fairburn & Associates as the architects and design specialists for improvements to the football field at Denham Springs High School.

Board Member Buddy Mincey Jr., who represents the Denham Springs area, said that installing an all-weather artificial surface on the playing field and other improvements would cost between $700,000 and $900,000.

Mincey said that the Denham Springs High School athletic department had started a fundraising campaign to assist with the cost of the new field and other improvements and that the schoolâ??s boosters have agreed to raise $200,000 for the project.

The School Board will cover the remainder of the expenses.

Mincey said that the Denham Springs High field is used by many groups and that the field â??has taken a beating over the past several years.â?

Improving the field is the No. 2 priority among needed improvements to Denham Springs High, Mincey said, one notch below construction of a new technology and science building.

The School Board approved construction of the technology and science building at an earlier meeting.

Mincey said that the new field and other stadium improvements should be completed by May.

Safety wrote:Our school doesn't really have a religious curriculum. We have Mythology, but that's about it. I think religion is interesting. Especially since I have internet friends from all over the world with different religious backgrounds. I wouldn't mind learning more about religion.

i_like_1981 wrote:Oh right. By the look of the thread title I presumed you were against creationism being taught in schools at all. Well, there is a place where it should be taught, and that's in RE (Religious Education). I'm sure you have this class over in America as well but it might have a different name. Creationism belongs in the RE curriculum and that's where it should stay, but I agree that it should not be allowed to become part of the science curriculum. Science is where facts are taught. RE is a subject where people are educated on beliefs and students may be allowed to use their own mind on what they think is right and what they don't believe in. Creationism is also a belief, and there is more hard evidence for the side of evolution. Therefore evolution is what they should be concentrating on in science classes; it abides by the term "science" more than creationism does. Both creationism and evolution should be taught in schools but they do not belong in the same subject. Creationism is part of religious education and evolution is part of science. It should stay that way, I think.

Oh, and I do like that picture.

Best regards,
i_like_1981

Safety wrote:Are all of you guys atheists?...

Safety wrote:Are all of you guys atheists?...

Lewis wrote:

Safety wrote:Are all of you guys atheists?...

I'm an Agnostic (brought up CofE). I'm not really sure about God existance, but if He does exist I imagine He would be a bit disapointed with the world.

Safety wrote:Are all of you guys atheists?...