Monkey Trial II: Tenn. House Passes Bill Permitting Teachers To Teach The “Controversy” Over Evolution

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Legendary actor Spencer Tracy Crosses Frederick March in "Inherit the Wind"
I guess it takes a few whacks to get things into the heads of the theocrats in Tennessee.  Eighty-six years after the famous “Scopes Monkey Trial” pitted Clarence Darrow, Esq., against William Jennings Bryan, Esq., in a classic cross-examination of opposing counsel that decimated the notion that teaching creationism was anything except the indoctrination of religion by public school officials, Tennessee legislators are at it again with a new version of the Butler Act. 

Feigning that some controversy actually exists over the fact of evolution, the Rocky Toppers have decided to grant job protection to teachers who choose to criticize the scientific doctrine. To be quite proper, they have inserted language that stipulates that “this section only protects the teaching of scientific information, and shall not be construed to promote any religious or non-religious doctrine.”  But  Becky Ashe, the president of the Tennessee Science Teachers Association, is not fooled. She told a subcommittee of the Tennessee House that the Bill “is an anti-evolutionary attempt to allow non-scientific alternatives to evolution (such as creationism and intelligent design) to be introduced into our public schools.”

Seems the famous trial and the movie version (“Inherit The Wind”) are always on the minds of  theocrats. Tennessee State Representative Richard Floyd (R) even alluded to them in the floor debate commenting that “since the late ’50s, early ’60s when we let the intellectual bullies hijack our education system, we’ve been on a slippery slope.” Aptly named Republican Sheila Butt even found a way to criticize environmentalists in the debate saying she was told in high school that Aqua Net hair spray hurts the environment. In a conclusion worthy of mention she added, “Since then scientists have said that maybe we shouldn’t have given up that aerosol can because that aerosol can was actually absorbing the Earth’s rays and keeping us from global warming.” Ah, the joys of anti-intellectualism.

The Bill passed the House 70-23 and now goes to the Senate. Hopefully, they reached a stage of high intellectual evolution.

Source: TPM

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

239 thoughts on “Monkey Trial II: Tenn. House Passes Bill Permitting Teachers To Teach The “Controversy” Over Evolution”

  1. rafflaw:

    What in the Constitution forbids public schools from teaching the controversy?

  2. raff, who knows if they are real or not. No matter. Tootie posts a list as if volume is a substitute for fact. If we were to post a list of all the true scientists who reject creationism or “intelligent design” whatever that is, we wold use up all the Professor’s photons and then where would we be? It would be quite a list to compare with her pitiful little offering.

  3. As I said earlier (and I’ll correct myself this time around), too many whack jobs… (Thanks to AY for calling the error to my attention.)

    And too many pointless distractions that keep us from tackling important, even critical, issues.

  4. Way to go, Team Theocracy! That’s one thing I do like about you, Tootles. You can never go too long without showing your true colors.

    Too bad about that 1st Amendment though.

    Too bad for you that is.

    Absolutely wonderful for the rest of us.

  5. Tootie, I went over your list and to the best of my recollection, do not recognize ANY of the names on your list. Having a doctorate does not insulate one from being an idiot.

    Also, you may be overinterpreting the position of these alleged professionals. They may believe in a Creator, but the seven day story may be understood by them as an ancient allegory rather than something to be taken literally. Frankly, if a literal creationist applied for a job with our company, they would be passed over without further review. We do not accept employees who reject science in favor of mythology. If they cannot tell the difference between an allegory and science, they have no place in our company.

  6. Some modern scientists who accept the biblical account of creation:

    * Dr. William Arion, Biochemistry, Chemistry
    * Dr. Paul Ackerman, Psychologist
    * Dr. E. Theo Agard, Medical Physics
    * Dr. Steve Austin, Geologist
    * Dr. S.E. Aw, Biochemist
    * Dr. Thomas Barnes, Physicist
    * Dr. Geoff Barnard, Immunologist
    * Dr. Don Batten, Plant Physiologist
    * Dr. John Baumgardner, Electrical Engineering, Space Physicist, Geophysicist, expert in supercomputer modeling of plate tectonics
    * Dr. Jerry Bergman, Psychologist
    * Dr. Kimberly Berrine, Microbiology & Immunology
    * Prof. Vladimir Betina, Microbiology, Biochemistry & Biology
    * Dr. Andrew Bosanquet, Biology, Microbiology
    * Edward A. Boudreaux, Theoretical Chemistry
    * Dr. David R. Boylan, Chemical Engineer
    * Prof. Linn E. Carothers, Associate Professor of Statistics
    * Dr. Rob Carter, Marine Biology
    * Dr. David Catchpoole, Plant Physiology
    * Prof. Sung-Do Cha, Physics
    * Dr. Eugene F. Chaffin, Professor of Physics
    * Dr. Choong-Kuk Chang, Genetic Engineering
    * Prof. Jeun-Sik Chang, Aeronautical Engineering
    * Dr. Donald Chittick, Physical Chemist
    * Prof. Chung-Il Cho, Biology Education
    * Dr. John M. Cimbala, Mechanical Engineering
    * Dr. Harold Coffin, Palaeontologist
    * Timothy C. Coppess, M.S., Environmental Scientist
    * Dr. Bob Compton, DVM
    * Dr. Ken Cumming, Biologist
    * Dr. Jack W. Cuozzo, Dentist
    * Dr. William M. Curtis III, Th.D., Th.M., M.S., Aeronautics & Nuclear Physics
    * Dr. Malcolm Cutchins, Aerospace Engineering
    * Dr. Lionel Dahmer, Analytical Chemist
    * Dr. Raymond V. Damadian, M.D., Pioneer of magnetic resonance imaging
    * Dr. Chris Darnbrough, Biochemist
    * Dr. Nancy M. Darrall, Botany
    * Dr. Bryan Dawson, Mathematics
    * Dr. Douglas Dean, Biological Chemistry
    * Prof. Stephen W. Deckard, Assistant Professor of Education
    * Dr. David A. DeWitt, Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience
    * Dr. Don DeYoung, Astronomy, atmospheric physics, M.Div
    * Dr. Geoff Downes, Creationist Plant Physiologist
    * Dr. Ted Driggers, Operations research
    * Robert H. Eckel, Medical Research
    * Dr. André Eggen, Geneticist
    * Dr. Dudley Eirich, Molecular Biologist
    * Prof. Dennis L. Englin, Professor of Geophysics
    * Dr. Andrew J. Fabich, Microbiology
    * Prof. Danny Faulkner, Astronomy
    * Prof. Carl B. Fliermans, Professor of Biology
    * Prof. Dwain L. Ford, Organic Chemistry
    * Prof. Robert H. Franks, Associate Professor of Biology
    * Dr. Alan Galbraith, Watershed Science
    * Dr. Paul Giem, Medical Research
    * Dr. Maciej Giertych, Geneticist
    * Dr. Duane Gish, Biochemist
    * Dr. Werner Gitt, Information Scientist
    * Dr. Warwick Glover, General Surgeon
    * Dr. D.B. Gower, Biochemistry
    * Dr. Robin Greer, Chemist, History
    * Dr. Stephen Grocott, Chemist
    * Dr. Vicki Hagerman, DMV
    * Dr. Donald Hamann, Food Scientist
    * Dr. Barry Harker, Philosopher
    * Dr. Charles W. Harrison, Applied Physicist, Electromagnetics
    * Dr. John Hartnett, Physics
    * Dr. Mark Harwood, Engineering (satellite specialist)
    * Dr. George Hawke, Environmental Scientist
    * Dr. Margaret Helder, Science Editor, Botanist
    * Dr. Harold R. Henry, Engineer
    * Dr. Jonathan Henry, Astronomy
    * Dr. Joseph Henson, Entomologist
    * Dr. Robert A. Herrmann, Professor of Mathematics, US Naval Academy
    * Dr. Andrew Hodge, Head of the Cardiothoracic Surgical Service
    * Dr. Kelly Hollowell, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacologist
    * Dr. Ed Holroyd, III, Atmospheric Science
    * Dr. Bob Hosken, Biochemistry
    * Dr. George F. Howe, Botany
    * Dr. Neil Huber, Physical Anthropologist
    * Dr. James A. Huggins, Professor and Chair, Department of Biology
    * Dr. Russ Humphreys, Physics
    * Evan Jamieson, Hydrometallurgy
    * George T. Javor, Biochemistry
    * Dr. Pierre Jerlström, Molecular Biology
    * Dr. Arthur Jones, Biology
    * Dr. Jonathan W. Jones, Plastic Surgeon
    * Dr. Raymond Jones, Agricultural Scientist
    * Prof. Leonid Korochkin, Molecular Biology
    * Dr. William F. Kane, (Civil) Geotechnical Engineering
    * Dr. Valery Karpounin, Mathematical Sciences, Logics, Formal Logics
    * Dr. Dean Kenyon, Biologist
    * Prof. Gi-Tai Kim, Biology
    * Prof. Harriet Kim, Biochemistry
    * Prof. Jong-Bai Kim, Biochemistry
    * Prof. Jung-Han Kim, Biochemistry
    * Prof. Jung-Wook Kim, Environmental Science
    * Prof. Kyoung-Rai Kim, Analytical Chemistry
    * Prof. Kyoung-Tai Kim, Genetic Engineering
    * Prof. Young-Gil Kim, Materials Science
    * Prof. Young In Kim, Engineering
    * Dr. John W. Klotz, Biologist
    * Dr. Vladimir F. Kondalenko, Cytology/Cell Pathology
    * Dr. Leonid Korochkin, M.D., Genetics, Molecular Biology, Neurobiology
    * Dr. John K.G. Kramer, Biochemistry
    * Dr. Johan Kruger, Zoology
    * Prof. Jin-Hyouk Kwon, Physics
    * Prof. Myung-Sang Kwon, Immunology
    * Dr. John Leslie, Biochemist
    * Dr. Jason Lisle, Astrophysicist
    * Dr. Alan Love, Chemist
    * Dr. Ian Macreadie, molecular biologist and microbiologist:
    * Dr. John Marcus, Molecular Biologist
    * Dr. Ronald C. Marks, Associate Professor of Chemistry
    * Dr. George Marshall, Eye Disease Researcher
    * Dr. Ralph Matthews, Radiation Chemist
    * Dr. John McEwan, Chemist
    * Prof. Andy McIntosh, Combustion theory, aerodynamics
    * Dr. David Menton, Anatomist
    * Dr. Angela Meyer, Creationist Plant Physiologist
    * Dr. John Meyer, Physiologist
    * Dr. Albert Mills, Animal Embryologist/Reproductive Physiologist
    * Colin W. Mitchell, Geography
    * Dr. Tommy Mitchell, Physician
    * Dr. John N. Moore, Science Educator
    * Dr. John W. Moreland, Mechanical engineer and Dentist
    * Dr. Henry M. Morris (1918–2006), founder of the Institute for Creation Research.
    * Dr. Arlton C. Murray, Paleontologist
    * Dr. John D. Morris, Geologist
    * Dr. Len Morris, Physiologist
    * Dr. Graeme Mortimer, Geologist
    * Dr. Terry Mortenson, History of Geology
    * Stanley A. Mumma, Architectural Engineering
    * Prof. Hee-Choon No, Nuclear Engineering
    * Dr. Eric Norman, Biomedical researcher
    * Dr. David Oderberg, Philosopher
    * Prof. John Oller, Linguistics
    * Prof. Chris D. Osborne, Assistant Professor of Biology
    * Dr. John Osgood, Medical Practitioner
    * Dr. Charles Pallaghy, Botanist
    * Dr. Gary E. Parker, Biologist, Cognate in Geology (Paleontology)
    * Dr. David Pennington, Plastic Surgeon
    * Prof. Richard Porter
    * Dr. Georgia Purdom, Molecular Genetics
    * Dr. John Rankin, Cosmologist
    * Dr. A.S. Reece, M.D.
    * Prof. J. Rendle-Short, Pediatrics
    * Dr. Jung-Goo Roe, Biology
    * Dr. David Rosevear, Chemist
    * Dr. Ariel A. Roth, Biology
    * Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, Physical Chemistry
    * Dr. Joachim Scheven Palaeontologist:
    * Dr. Ian Scott, Educator
    * Dr. Saami Shaibani, Forensic physicist
    * Dr. Young-Gi Shim, Chemistry
    * Prof. Hyun-Kil Shin, Food Science
    * Dr. Mikhail Shulgin, Physics
    * Dr. Emil Silvestru, Geology
    * Dr. Roger Simpson, Engineer
    * Dr. Harold Slusher, Geophysicist
    * Dr. E. Norbert Smith, Zoologist
    * Arthur E. Wilder-Smith (1915–1995) Three science doctorates; a creation science pioneer
    * Dr. Andrew Snelling, Geologist
    * Prof. Man-Suk Song, Computer Science
    * Dr. Timothy G. Standish, Biology
    * Prof. James Stark, Assistant Professor of Science Education
    * Prof. Brian Stone, Engineer
    * Dr. Esther Su, Biochemistry
    * Dr. Charles Taylor, Linguistics
    * Dr. Stephen Taylor, Electrical Engineering
    * Dr. Ker C. Thomson, Geophysics
    * Dr. Michael Todhunter, Forest Genetics
    * Dr. Lyudmila Tonkonog, Chemistry/Biochemistry
    * Dr. Royal Truman, Organic Chemist:
    * Dr. Larry Vardiman, Atmospheric Science
    * Prof. Walter Veith, Zoologist
    * Dr. Joachim Vetter, Biologist
    * Dr. Stephen J. Vinay III, Chemical Engineering
    * Sir Cecil P. G. Wakeley (1892–1979) Surgeon
    * Dr. Tas Walker, Geology/Engineering
    * Dr. Jeremy Walter, Mechanical Engineer
    * Dr. Keith Wanser, Physicist
    * Dr. Noel Weeks, Ancient Historian (also has B.Sc. in Zoology)
    * Dr. A.J. Monty White, Chemistry/Gas Kinetics
    * Dr. John Whitmore, Geologist/Paleontologist
    * Dr. Carl Wieland, Medicine/Surgery
    * Dr. Clifford Wilson, Psycholinguist and archaeologist
    * Dr. Kurt Wise, Palaeontologist
    * Prof. Verna Wright, Rheumatologist (deceased 1997)
    * Prof. Seoung-Hoon Yang, Physics
    * Dr. Thomas (Tong Y.) Yi, Ph.D., Creationist Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
    * Dr. Ick-Dong Yoo, Genetics
    * Dr. Sung-Hee Yoon, Biology
    * Dr. Patrick Young, Chemist and Materials Scientist
    * Prof. Keun Bae Yu, Geography
    * Dr. Henry Zuill, Biology

    http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/bios/default.asp

  7. Let the people have the kind of public schools they wish to have.

    A free people demand it.

  8. Bedaman: “Buddha can you name one warm blooded animal that has been around thousands of years that looks different today than it did then or have we reached a final product.”

    —-

    Dogs. Cats, beef cattle, cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, canaries. All selectively bred for our consumption or amusement. People are taller too, those that inhabit resource rich (by chance or design) environments and have the benefit of cultures that treat as well as suppress disease and illness.

    What kind of question is that? That something looks different doesn’t mean it is different and vice versa.
    What’s the point? Creatures respond to genetic pressure of many kinds.

    There is no final product in nature, evolution is ongoing so long as the environment demands it or a stray mutation is beneficial.

    Tennessee needs to move on, this law isn’t a substitute for jobs, just a diversion- like so much of the recent Republican legislation we see.

  9. Bda,

    Taking my youngest grandchild to Sesame Street Live as a build up to vacationing at Sesame Street Place.

    However, since all my children are adopted, none are of my creation but have evolved nicely never-the less …

  10. Thanks Blouise, On my way to take one of my creations to Disney on Ice. Hope it evolves into a great show 🙂

  11. Buddha Is Laughing
    1, April 10, 2011 at 3:05 pm
    Blouise,

    No worries! The Separation of Church and State Doctrine gets a pretty through workout around here. I’m sure if Bob were going to drop a bombshell, he’d have done it long before now.

    ==============================================

    Yeah, but he’s been ill and now feels better so just might want to cause a little mischief in celebration 8)

  12. “Intelligent Design” is in and of itself an oxymoron when applied to the question of evolution. Any law written to support it would be cut from the same cloth … id est, falsely true

  13. Blouise,

    No worries! The Separation of Church and State Doctrine gets a pretty through workout around here. I’m sure if Bob were going to drop a bombshell, he’d have done it long before now. :mrgreen:

  14. The problem with that is that in the scientific community, evolution is readily accepted as not being scientifically controversial, but rather as being scientifically accepted as true. If the section only allows the teaching of scientific information, then the law is an oxymoron in that by that very wording it would prevent the religiously based topics of ID and creationism from being taught in a science class. Ambiguous and contradictory laws on their face invite abuse and circumvention. This law is indeed nonsense logically and invites abuse by the religious who want to spread their dogma as if it were valid science when it is not.

  15. rafflaw
    1, April 10, 2011 at 2:58 pm
    Blouise,
    Thanks for the biology lesson!

    ================================

    I decided to take everything literally and answer accordingly

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