Alabama Legislator Galliher (R) To Bring Public School Students To Creationism
Well, if one can’t bring creationism into the public school science classroom then what’s the next best thing? Why, bringing the science class to creationism of course!
Once again, as part of the never ending stream of atavism that flows from the contemporary, Bible-believing GOP, a state legislator is attempting to find a way to get public school students taught creationism.
Checkmated by multiple Federal court case rulings against introducing creationism into public school science classrooms, legislatures are fighting to find other methods to fight science (evolution.) One such legislator is Alabama state Representative Blaine Galliher (chair of the Alabama House Rules committee). He recently introduced into the Alabama legislature bill SB133. Here is an interview he gave with a local PBS radio station (WBHM) to explain his motivation.
Did you catch the section, about 7:35 in, about how this bill came to be? Yes, it is being lobbied into public law by one of Galliher’s local evangelical Christian congregations.
Also note how in that interview Galliher refused to acknowledge the reason that federal courts strike down bringing creationism into public schools - because creationism is a sectarian religious teaching. I also note that the radio station interviewer (Dan Carsen) missed this point too.
The NCSE notes:
Antievolution legislation in Alabama
[…]
There are already signs that the passage of HB 133 would encourage the teaching of creationism. The Gadsen Times (November 19, 2011) reported that a local religious group in Galliher’s district was eager to participate in such a released time program, planning to offer four classes per day, five days per week. “The primary thrust of the school,” explained a spokesperson, “is to inform young people there is [a] theory of creation besides evolution, and it’s strictly based on Genesis 1 through 12.”
Local television station WAFF also did an interview:
Bill would allow elective religious courses for high school students
[…]
Once approved by the school board, students would need written approval from their parents to take the course.
It would offer one credit as an elective at an off campus site, most likely a church, and be taught by an instructor. This would come at no cost to the school district. Galliher said it would be paid for by donations from church groups, business leaders and philanthropists.
The state board of education did not support the bill last year when it was introduced; citing the challenge it would create for working around critical instructional time. Galliher said it would not be a conflict.
“Creation has just as much right to be taught in the school system as evolution does and I think this is simply providing the vehicle to do that,” he explained.
[…]
The station interviewed some people, and they put on air a couple of women who seem quite fine with it. Watch the video at the WAFF link above.
This is not the first time Galliher has tried this. In 2011 it was attempted, and even then the goal behind it was quite clear:
Galliher to reintroduce released time bill
A local religious group is pursuing creating a religious curriculum for Southside High School students, and a local legislator plans to reintroduce a bill for a state law allowing the option for religious education during the school day.
Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Rainbow City, says he’ll reintroduce legislation next year [i.e. 2012] that would allow local school boards to approve released time, religious coursework for high school students taught during the school day but off public school campuses.
Joseph Kennedy of Southside said the Institute of Biblical Studies has been working since May 2010 to start a released time program for Southside High. He renewed this request Tuesday night during an Etowah County Board of Education meeting.
[…]
Kennedy said he has written a curriculum to get the Southside program started.
‘The primary thrust of the school is to inform young people there is theory of creation besides evolution, and it’s strictly based on Genesis 1 through 12,’ Kennedy said. […]
And yes, it is possible such a bill will be successfully upheld in court, as previous laws allowing students to leave public school for private functions (including religious ones) have held up.
This is America.