Alberta government has proposed a law whereby teaching of evolution in Alberta schools will be optional. Parent will be allowed to pull their children out of evolution classes.
Alberta already has a reputation for a redneck province; this legislation probably will reinforce that reputation. In addition, Alberta will probably subject to world ridicule, if this news gets world prominence.
It happened a few years ago to Kansas, when they passed a pro-Creationism, anti-evolution education policy. Reporters from world over descended on Kansas, and the state was the object of jokes, scorn and ridicule. Eventually Kansas realized its mistake, threw the Creationists out of office and elected representatives who restored sanity to education policy.
However, I understand religious right is very strong in Alberta, so I don’t see this legislation reversed in a hurry. However, this will have far reaching implications for Alberta. One is that Alberta will become a permanent butt of jokes, an object of ridicule.
The other is that Alberta students may have difficulty getting admission to biology courses at university level. If a student has not learned evolution at high school level, that is a serious impediment to taking biology courses at university level. Alberta students will be the losers in the end.
The winners of course, will be the religious right and the Conservative government of Alberta. Anyway as far as I am concerned, this reinforced Alberta’s reputation as the Bible Belt of Canada, as a redneck province.
Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law
Alberta already has a reputation for a redneck province; this legislation probably will reinforce that reputation. In addition, Alberta will probably subject to world ridicule, if this news gets world prominence.
It happened a few years ago to Kansas, when they passed a pro-Creationism, anti-evolution education policy. Reporters from world over descended on Kansas, and the state was the object of jokes, scorn and ridicule. Eventually Kansas realized its mistake, threw the Creationists out of office and elected representatives who restored sanity to education policy.
However, I understand religious right is very strong in Alberta, so I don’t see this legislation reversed in a hurry. However, this will have far reaching implications for Alberta. One is that Alberta will become a permanent butt of jokes, an object of ridicule.
The other is that Alberta students may have difficulty getting admission to biology courses at university level. If a student has not learned evolution at high school level, that is a serious impediment to taking biology courses at university level. Alberta students will be the losers in the end.
The winners of course, will be the religious right and the Conservative government of Alberta. Anyway as far as I am concerned, this reinforced Alberta’s reputation as the Bible Belt of Canada, as a redneck province.
Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law