Critical Thinking Allowed in the Classroom in Tennessee

Teachers and students will be allowed to take a critical look at Darwin. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Joel Kontinen


With a vote of 70 –23, the Tennessee State Legislature passed an academic freedom bill. Teachers will be able to encourage their students to “understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught, such as evolution and global warming.”

A similar bill was passed in Texas in 2009. The Texas Board of Education also allowed critical thinking in science classes.


Source:

Tennessee General Assembly. Bill Summary.
*HB 0368 by *Dunn, White, Hensley, Faison, Lollar, Evans, McCormick, Shipley, Weaver, Eldridge, Rich, Maggart, Carr, Alexander, Floyd, Miller D, Hill, Holt, Butt, Sparks, Powers, Cobb , Roach, Parkinson. (SB 0893 by *Watson.)

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, protects a teacher from discipline for teaching scientific subjects in an objective manner. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10.

Critical Thinking To Be Allowed in Texas Schools

Texas will allow high school students to critique Darwinian explanations. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.



Joel Kontinen



The days of teaching evolution dogmatically are over in Texas high schools. Students will no longer be told what to think but they are expected to evaluate – yes, and even critique - the scientific evidence for evolution, including common ancestry, natural selection and mutations. They should "analyze, evaluate and critique scientific explanations…including examining all sides of scientific evidence… so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.”

According to the new science standards approved by the Texas Board of Education, students are encouraged to think critically:

“In all fields of science, analyze, evaluate and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations so as to encourage critical thinking by the student."

Students are also expected to analyse and evaluate scientific explanations for the fossil record and the complexity of the cell.

Darwinists have decried the decision as a ploy to introduce creationism into science classes. However, the truth is somewhat different. As Dr. John West of Discovery Institute explained, “Texas has sent a clear message that evolution should be taught as a scientific theory open to critical scrutiny, not as a sacred dogma that can't be questioned”.


Sources:

Simon, Stephanie. 2009. Texas Opens Classroom Door for Evolution Doubts. Wall Street Journal (27 March)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123819751472561761.html

Smith, Anika. 2009. Texas Improves on Strengths and Weaknesses Language in Science Standards on Teaching Evolution. Evolution News and Views. (27 March). You can read it here.