Good News From Georgia

Posted 18 February 2005 by

Georgia’s House Bill 179 was tabled by the education committee after hearing comments from the bill’s sponsor, a couple of biologists, and some education groups. Most of the education committee are former educators and didn’t like the anti-science content of the bill, its opposition to local control, its unfunded mandate, and the need to buy new textbooks and write a new curriculum to match the bill.

Although many people spoke against the bill, the education committee only asked questions from Rep. Bridges, its lone supporter. He argued that schools should teach facts not theories. (Although, that is not in his bill, that is how he describes his bill. Go figure.) The education committee questioned him on his (mis)use of scientific terminology and whether he had issues with hypotheses.

See that wasn’t hard; was it?

4 Comments

Kristjan Wager · 20 February 2005

It's so cool when it's done right. It's of course sad that we see this as a victory, when it is how it should be done every time.

Bayesian Bouffant · 20 February 2005

He argued that schools should teach facts not theories.

Wow, theories of gravity and relativity out the window. Quantum theory out the window. Theory of electromagentism out the window...

jonas · 21 February 2005

Has he at least defined what kind of information he considers 'facts' and why? No? Well, that's not much of a surprise.

Patrick · 21 February 2005

What a relief...Georgia has enough embarrassments (Zell Miller, to note one burning pain) without announcing to the nation we don't understand science.