Louisiana counts the cost of teaching creationism – in reputation and dollars

[AdamSmith]

Well, thank goodness not absolutely everyone has lost their mind just yet. The writer is a Louisiana native who, as his online Guardian bio says, "is a science education activist and student at Rice University in Houston. For his efforts to prevent the public funding of the teaching of creationism, he won the National Center for Science Education's Friend of Darwin Award and the Hugh M Hefner First Amendment Award."

Louisiana counts the cost of teaching creationism – in reputation and dollars

GOP Governor Bobby Jindal defends anti-evolution education policy, but it costs his state millions in science-based business

• 
• • Zack Kopplin
  • guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 May 2013 08.30 EDT

Louisiana State University's former graduate dean of science, Kevin Carman, says: 'teaching pseudo-science drives scientists away.' Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal endorsed teaching creationism in public schools, by way of the state's creationism law, a misnamed and misguided piece of legislation called the Louisiana Science Education Act. In a recent interview with NBC News, Jindal said:

"Let's teach them about intelligent design … What are we scared of?"

Governor Jindal, we are scared of the harm to Louisiana students and to our state. The Louisiana Science Education Act has already hurt our economy.

The chairman of Louisiana's senate education committee, Conrad Appel, has called for high schools and colleges to graduate more students in Stem fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), because "the amount of income [students] can earn in these related fields is best." Teaching students that creationism is science will confuse them about the scientific method and the nature of science, which, in turn, will hold them back from getting jobs in any cutting-edge scientific field.

We can't teach students misleading lessons that blur the lines between rigorous fact and religious belief.

If the law stays in place, we will not graduate more students into careers in science unless we teach them evolution, which is vital to fields like agriculture and medicine. We need our students to understand the concept to get jobs in places such as Baton Rouge's top-notch Pennington Biomedical Research Center or New Orleans' BioDistrict.

Claude Bouchard, a former executive director of the Pennington Research Center, told me that because of the Louisiana Science Education Act:

"[students] will continue to believe that the laws of chemistry, physics and

biology

are optional when addressing the big issues of our time. Unfortunately, this is also not without economic consequences.

"If you are an employer in a high-tech industry, in the biotechnology sector or in a business that depends heavily on science, would you prefer to hire a graduate from a state where the legislature has in a sense declared that the laws of chemistry, physics or biology can be suspended at times or someone from a state with a rigorous science curriculum for its sons and daughters?"

Peter Kulakowsky, a biotech entrepreneur in Louisiana, recently published a letter in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, saying that:

"As the director of a biological laboratory in Louisiana, I need enlightened staff. Distracting the state's students in their formative training [through the Louisiana Science Education Act] only cripples them."

The Louisiana Science Education Act does more than harm the potential of Louisiana's students. It is already directly impacting the state's economy. Louisiana State University's former graduate dean of science, Kevin Carman, testified before the state legislature in 2012 that top scientists had left the university citing the Louisiana Science Education Act as a reason. Other scientists chose to accept jobs elsewhere, because they didn't want to come to a state with a creationism law. Carman said: "teaching pseudo-science drives scientists away."

Louisiana's third largest industry is tourism, and the state generates millions of dollars each year from conventions. After the Louisiana Science Education Act was passed, the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology cancelled a scheduled convention in New Orleans in 2011, costing the city an estimated $2.9m. The society launched a boycott of Louisiana, and the state has become less competitive at attracting certain conventions because of its anti-science stance.

Thankfully, the boycott of New Orleans has ended, because the New Orleans city council has endorsed a repeal of the Louisiana Science Education Act and the Orleans Parish School Board banned the teaching of creationism in its schools. The boycott on the rest of the state still remains, however. Kristin Gisleson Palmer, a member of the city council, said the act needed to be repealed because of the economic harm it caused the city:

"With the New Orleans Medical Corridor poised for tremendous growth, this law also profoundly impacts our ability to fill jobs in the cutting-edge science fields with students educated in our state's public schools."

On 1 May, Louisiana's lawmakers will have a chance to stand up for students and help repair the damage done to our economy. A bill to repeal the act will be heard in the education committee of the state senate, and they can vote to repeal. We should all urge our elected officials to do the right thing.

The economic damage from the Louisiana Science Education Act should serve as a warning to other states. Tennessee passed a copycat bill and other states around the country introduce creationism bills every year. Any state that passes a creationism law will harm their students and drive scientists – and business – away.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/01/louisiana-cost-teaching-creationism

[Guest hitoallusa]

It's a very illogical article... There are many good scientists who believes in creationism... This is not the way to approach this matter. The author acts like Sarah Palin and laughs at her not realizing that he is also irrational...hmm.. I wonder why that is.... Not sure what is wrong with Guardian...

[AdamSmith]

There are many good scientists who believes in creationism...

Name 50.

[RA1]

I think I know some folks who are older than the 6,000 years or so that is stated in the biblical version of earth history, at least counting their past lives.

Are there any folks out there, meaning herein, who might think that the earth was intelligently created and that "years" are subject to interpretation? Never mind, that would suggest that humans are intelligent and can get along and not have major or even minor wars. How silly of me.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

There is that: biologists for instance like to point out that the haphazardness of our own physiognomy is the best argument against intelligent design. Never mind our behavior.

[lookin]

I'd like to think that a great scientific mind wouldn't get totally derailed by sitting through a class in creationism. In fact, might it not develop a more questioning nature and become proficient in the skepticism so valued in a good scientist?

If I had had to bracket my life's journey by the stuff coming out of my science teacher's maw, it might have been a very short trip indeed.

[lookin]

If I had had to bracket my life's journey by the stuff coming out of my science teacher's maw . . .

I should have said some of the stuff. I actually had some pretty good science teachers, one of whom encouraged us to write papers on things that interested us. Looting the local library of everything on 'telephones' and writing an original report was a first for me. I liked doing it, and still enjoy finding out what makes things tick and trying to explain it. I owe that to a good science teacher.

I might even have that report lying around somewhere.

[Guest hitoallusa]

I love it Lookin. You seem very well educated and balanced.. I love the fact that you looted the library to write a report. I want a son like you if I ever have one..

[Guest hitoallusa]

Too many to name, starting with my mentors in college. I don't understand the concept that one can't be both religious and scientific. What does one's personal belief has to do with science? AS, whether you accept creationism or not, I think in your good conscience you need to acknowledge biased and irrational statements in the article you cited. We need to open the eyes of religious fanatics by exercising sound thinking process in front of them, not by following their irrationality and bias. I think one can reject creationism if one wants to but do not force others to drop it with such irrational arguments. That's what the religious fanatics do everyday.

Name 50.

[AdamSmith]

I don't understand the concept that one can't be both religious and scientific. What does one's personal belief has to do with science?

Well, exactly. My view is that evolution and Judeo-Christian belief have no reason to be in conflict. In fact it seems to me that believers who insist there is a conflict between the two are guilty of very badly trivializing their religion.

AS, whether you accept creationism or not, I think in your good conscience you need to acknowledge biased and irrational statements in the article you cited.

Here we will have to disagree. The article quotes people, who are in a position to know, making factual statements about how the pro-creationist policy is making it difficult to recruit qualified students and science workers. Just the facts, ma'am.

[AdamSmith]

I'd like to think that a great scientific mind wouldn't get totally derailed by sitting through a class in creationism. In fact, might it not develop a more questioning nature and become proficient in the skepticism so valued in a good scientist?

Hmm ... the concern may be not for the great, but the merely good.

But another thought occurs too: I'm trying to think of any occasion since, say, the mid-nineteenth century where state (nation/state) backing of anti-science did not have a deleterious effect on that state's/society's scientific standing and progress. Not something like the Church coming down on Galileo, but rather a modern state rejecting mainstream or emerging-mainstream scientific thought.

E.g., the Nazis' rejection of the new "Jewish" physics. Certainly lost them a lot of talent; arguably they could have won the race for the Bomb had they not spurred that exodus. Or what Stalin's backing of Lysenkoism cost Soviet genetic science.

To be sure, one U.S. state doing something like this will only drive qualified folks to other states, as the article notes, not squelch national progress. But still, in miniature, seems right for folks invested in that state to fret as reported.

[lookin]

Well, of course, if Governor Jindal starts installing high school concentration camps, it does become another kettle of fish entirely.

I'm definitely not advocating all-creationism-all-the-time, just observing that a science-based company that pulls up roots from a place where students are exposed to something other than science may not be quite so rigorous itself.

I think that's the point Hito was making.

Parenthetically, so to speak, if I were a parent myself, I'm pretty sure that my young 'un would have heard about the various theories of how we got here directly from me, and well before (s)he got to school. Educating a child about something so fundamental (once again, so to speak) should not, in my opinion anyway, be left solely to the school system.

As you say, though, Hitler's driving the nuclear scientists out of Germany was rather short-sighted of him. Imagine if he had got there first, instead of us.

[RA1]

Hooray for you lookin thinking that children should be taught and exposed to "the world" first at home and later, at school. No doubt that you think being in charge of their upbringing is paramount rather than just let schools babysit or worse. In other words, children without parental involvement are in serious trouble and society as a whole suffers, as well as the individual kids.

I hope the dish depicted is gumbo, something the folks in LA, that is Louisiana, not Los Angeles, are superior in making.

Nazi Germany had too many political motives extant to worry about losing a few politically unacceptable scientists just because they could create a weapon of mass destruction. Hooray for our side. One of the most prominent, Einstein, has had his star rise and fall over the years but he continues to hang in there.

There is no reason not to study every theory expounded, is there? Then one can try to decide the best fit for oneself.

Best regards,

RA1

[lookin]

I hope the dish depicted is gumbo, something the folks in LA, that is Louisiana, not Los Angeles, are superior in making.

Jambalaya, so I am told, and a crawfish.

[Guest hitoallusa]

That dish is not so appetizing... If we ever get to have a meal together, I want to skip that dish... unless Lookin can make it look more appetizing..

My point is that one who believes in creationism can be a good scientist too. the person whoever wrote that article is biased. Personally, I don't think I would want to go to LSU as a scientist because of some other reasons than what was quoted in the article. A person who wields such a bias is a director of some kind is worrisome and no wonder smart people want to leave that college.

[RA1]

Jambalaya, so I am told, and a crawfish.

Sorry. From the picture I could not tell the exact texture of the roux which likely is the main difference.

Both are famous in song and "gourmet" legend.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

From the color -- more brown than red -- I would hazard it is Cajun jambalaya, rather than the Creole version which would be redder due to tomatoes being more plentiful, the nearer to New Orleans one is.

I wish I had some now.

(Irrelevant anecdote -- the Cajun ex and I spent hours one day making an enormous pot of gumbo for a party that night. Making that much roux is considerable labor, especially taking into account burning the first batch and having to start over. After everyone had come and gone, I went to the kitchen for a final spoonful or two before bed. Lo and behold -- no gumbo! He said after spending that much time on it, he had got sick of it and so gave it all away to departing guests. Hmphh!)

Back to the OP for a moment. In the spirit of being kind to intelligent design, let us also entertain...

• Epicycles
• Phlogisten
• The ether
• The brain as an organ for cooling the body

...Fair and Balanced!

[RA1]

I would say that is an irreverent anecdote but still funny. Gumbo or jambalaya both good, just put enough good stuff in.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

Yes! Most importantly:

[lookin]

From the color -- more brown than red -- I would hazard it is Cajun jambalaya, rather than the Creole version which would be redder due to tomatoes being more plentiful, the nearer to New Orleans one is.

Right you are! The recipe itself.

I have a friend from New Orleans who's an excellent cook, with a sister who's even better. No one but the two of them can make a gumbo, or anything else with okra, that I can get down. Jambalaya, generally made sans okra, is a different story altogether.

They, and their friends, also taught me the importance of cooking crawfish with their heads on. The crawfish heads, that is. The friends, not so much. Not sure if intelligent design would apply in all cases. Of course, some of them are not exactly poster children for evolution either.

[RA1]

I surrender. Of course, I have eaten a lot of LA food while visiting there. However, a spectacular meal cooked locally by a friend of mine who calls himself a "coon ass" was boiled crawfish with potatoes and corn on the cob + his secret seasonings all in the boil + Po' Boy sandwiches made from fresh small loaves of bread and shrimp very slowly cooked entirely in butter. Eating shrimp with the butter still dripping on fresh hot bread was fun as was biting the heads off the crawfish before eating them. A few drinks made it all go down very smoothly.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

I just had dinner and now I am hungry again.

The ex used to remark that the South is where, while eating and enjoying one meal, you're likely already talking about the next one to come.

[AdamSmith]

Right you are! The recipe itself.

Thank you!

And for the rest as well.

[lookin]

. . . a spectacular meal cooked locally by a friend of mine who calls himself a "coon ass" was boiled crawfish with potatoes and corn on the cob + his secret seasonings all in the boil + Po' Boy sandwiches made from fresh small loaves of bread and shrimp very slowly cooked entirely in butter. Eating shrimp with the butter still dripping on fresh hot bread was fun as was biting the heads off the crawfish before eating them. A few drinks made it all go down very smoothly.

Sounds divine. Too bad you didn't invite Governor Jindal. Going around the Country doing shrimp boils would be a lot better use of his time than all the other nonsense he's working on.

The ex used to remark that the South is where, while eating and enjoying one meal, you're likely already talking about the next one to come.

When my friend stays with me, what's left from the last meal is usually part of the next meal. And the final leftovers find themselves in a Po' Boy with lots of sauce.

Remoulade sauce:

1/2 cup mayo

1 tablespoon horseradish

1 teaspoon pickle relish

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons Kikkoman Ponzu Lime

Fr'example.

[Guest hitoallusa]

Yum I love guys who can cook... Lookin you are just perfect.. 3