Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said in an interview that he has no problem with creationism being taught in public schools alongside evolution:
Jindal also said he has no problem with creationism being taught in public schools as long as a local school board OK’s it. Since the state is committed to national academic standards, he said, as long as schools are teaching evolution they should be allowed to teach other theories as well. “What are we scared of?” he said. “Let (students) debate and learn … give them critical thinking skills.”
Once again this year, anti-creationism activists led by college student Zack Kopplin and state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, are trying to repeal the 2008 Louisiana Science Education Act that permits science teachers to use “supplemental materials” in the classroom.
Jindal didn’t explictly say that he believed “creationism” should be taught in science classrooms, but that’s clearly the implication of his comments, and it’s consistent with remarks he made before and with currently existing policy. I can’t say I’m really surprised by Republicans who take this position, especially in the south, but it’s still unfortunate that such basic scientific ignorance on the part of politicians is both expected and rewarded by Republican voters.
