A new policy approved by the Central Community School District Monday night opens the door for what critics call creationism in the classroom. Teachers in the Central Community School District who wish to teach scientific theories other than evolution - i.e. creationism - have the freedom to do so following the board's unanimous approval of a new policy at its Monday night meeting.
According to The Advocate, the move by the independent school district near Baton Rouge is in line with the 2008 Louisiana Science Education Act, which critics have long pegged as a way to circumvent federal law and insert creationism/Intelligent Design into science classrooms across the state:
They said they spoke with middle and high school science teachers this past summer and heard that teachers were reluctant to tackle such controversies without more guidance from the school system. The board members argued that high performing school districts like Central must tackle such controversies and not shy away from them.
The new policy received little discussion Monday and no one spoke against it. After the policy passed in a 6-0 vote, a handful of people in the audience indicated their approval with smiles and thumbs up gestures.
Superintendent Michael Faulk said the policy has been on the school system's website for the past two weeks and no one emailed in support or opposition of it. A copy of the policy can be found at this link: http://centralcss.org/files/2013/4694/1968/1948_001science_curric.pdf
It has a long title: "Teacher Academic Freedom in Science Education When Covering Controversial Scientific Subjects."
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