In an interview with NBC’s Hoda Kotb at the ‘Education Nation’ event in New Orleans this past Friday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal defended his voucher program, which was deemed unconstitutional and now awaits the determination of the Louisiana Supreme Court. But he was asked whether Creationism should be taught in public schools, and after a little bit of dodging, The Governor answered in the affirmative, essentially saying, “sure, let’s give our kids the tools and critical thinking skills, not only in science, but as they learn about these controversial issues like global warming, er, climate change… other issues…”
Issues… like, facts, history, and reality.
He added,
“What are we scared of…?”
Yeah, you’re not chicken, are you? I think we just got bullied and peer-pressured by Bobby Jindal. Fear not, though, because God is not at all wrathful or punishing.
Of course Governor Jindal supports teaching Creationism in public schools, he signed the “Louisiana Science Education Act!” intended to:
“Foster an environment promoting open and objective discussion of scientific theories being studied, including evolution, the origins of life, global warming and human cloning.”
Great name for an act that does the opposite of what it implies, by the way. Who among you can argue against the need for science education for our children. And the future?
Since taking office in 2008, Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed off on over $650 million in cuts to higher education, while “Louisiana had the second steepest decline in per-pupil spending, paying $4, 715 less this year than in 2008.”
Cutting education while raising tuition costs? God’s plan! Look it up.
When you’re challenging the science behind evolution and climate change with Bible passages, you are “critically thinking,” according to Bobby Jindal. Objecting to the causes of climate change by saying, “the Bible teaches us that the ‘great floods’ are all part of God’s plan!” is what Republicans refer to as, “both sides of the climate change debate.”
If the intention is to teach critical thinking in public schools by debating whether or not “God hates fags,” Republicans and Bobby Jindal are sending their kids out into the marketplace of ideas to get crushed. That is, until there’s enough of this publicly-funded critical thinking to alter the marketplace of ideas.