NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Starting this fall, biology teachers in South Carolina will be instructed to “summarize ways that scientists use data from a variety of sources to investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory,” after the state’s education leaders unanimously voted to amend curriculum standards.
“This victory is an important milestone towards improving the quality of science education by ensuring that students learn the full range of relevant scientific evidence, including the scientific criticisms of evolution,” Casey Luskin, an attorney and public policy analyst with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, said in a news release June 12.
“South Carolina is the fifth current state to require students to learn about scientific criticisms of evolution, and this policy helps remedy the problem that most biology textbooks today largely ignore scientific challenges to Darwinism,” Luskin added.
The South Carolina standards do not mandate the teaching of alternative origins of life, such as Intelligent Design, but students will be allowed to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian evolution.
South Carolina state Sen. Mike Fair, a member of South Carolina’s Education Oversight Committee, led the nearly yearlong battle to amend the standards after voicing concerns about the high school biology guidelines’ exclusive focus on evolution.
“It is impossible to meet this standard without the discussion of the meaning of critical analysis as it applies to evolutionary science,” Fair said in a joint statement with Terrye Campsen Seckinger, a member of the state board of education, after the vote. “This is a great improvement over our 2000 standards. Students will now have the opportunity to wholly learn about the theory of evolution.
“This means that students will have the opportunity to fully discuss all aspects of evolutionary theory instead of limiting discussion to only evidence that might support it,” they added.
MUSLIM MODESTY MAKES WAVES — USA Today recently highlighted a growing challenge in the United States — that of accommodating the modesty practices of some Muslim women who now make their home in one of the most sexually provocative nations in the world.
Aside from the more common practice of wearing head scarves and long, flowing gowns, Muslim women who adhere to a more strict form of Islamic law believe the sexes must be separate if women are not adequately covered. This includes workout gyms, public swimming pools and even high school girls’ basketball games.
But observers fear a backlash against Muslims could result in America if women continue to make requests that areas be cordoned off from men in public settings, USA Today reported June 14.
“You’re not going to make your American, Christian and Jewish friends to feel comfortable … which in the end could create a dislike for Muslims that is unnatural,” Zuhdi Jasser, chairman of American Islamic Forum for Democracy, said.
Conversely, Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of Muslim Public Affairs Council, told USA Today that the right to petition for special accommodation based on religious beliefs is protected by the First Amendment.
Walid Phares, a professor of Middle East studies at Florida Atlantic University, said he views the trend as an early sign of a global Islamic movement to pressure Western society into abiding by Islamic laws.
‘GOD’ IN FLORIDA’S OFFICIAL MOTTO — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed a law June 22 that makes “In God We Trust” the state’s official motto.
Though the words have appeared on the state seal since 1868, a school project by two fourth grade students revealed there was no state law certifying the motto. The kids contacted Rep. Greg Evers, a Baptist, who introduced the bill.
“First and foremost this honors the Almighty,” Evers said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “It also gave these youngsters an opportunity to participate in Florida’s legislative process.”
Though “In God We Trust” is the United States’ official motto, Florida is the only state to adopt it as a state motto.
–30–
