| 10:45-11:45 |
Dr. Barbara Forrest, Southeastern Louisiana University
Back to the Future: The Louisiana Science Education Act of 2008
In 2008, the Louisiana legislature passed and Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the Louisiana Science Education Act. This law is the product of a collaboration between the LA Family Forum, a religious advocacy organization, and the Discovery Institute, an intelligent design creationist think tank in Seattle, WA. In January 2009, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a policy for implementing the law that is also a product of the influence of these two organizations. Louisiana is now the first and so far the only state to adopt such legislation, but it could serve as a bellwether for other states. Similar bills have been introduced this year in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Others are sure to follow in additional states. |