Our last post on the lunacy in Louisiana was It’s Coming Soon! But when we wrote that title, we didn’t realize that “soon” was already here.
In the News Star of Monroe, Louisiana we read Proposed textbooks to be scrutinized. Here are some excerpts, with bold added by us:
A group of concerned educators, parents and students will visit the Ouachita Parish Public Library this week to examine the latest science textbooks considered for placement in Louisiana’s classrooms.
They want to see how the subject of evolution will be taught and to give the state textbook adoption committee their views.
Oh goodie! A wandering horde of Louisiana citizens will be checking out the latest science books. Will they bring their torches and pitchforks? Let’s read on:
State Director of Curriculum Standards Nancy Beben said it is the review of science textbooks that generally receives the most public comment.
The public is interested in science. How wonderful! We continue:
West Monroe resident Mickey Cleveland said he wants to make sure the way evolution is taught reflects the most current knowledge. “We want evolution taught, but we want the fallacies in the theory taught as well,” Cleveland said. “There have been outright lies that have been perpetuated throughout the years.”
Mickey seems to be really on top of the situation. He probably reads all the creationist websites to keep up with developments in the fast-moving field of creation science. Here’s more:
Cleveland said that as technology improves, more scientists and mathematicians are questioning Darwin’s theories of evolution.
“More” scientists? Then why do we keep encountering the same five or six names who keep cranking out the same old stuff? If their numbers are growing, there’s no evidence of it. Moving along:
“Darwin said that if things can be proven against my theory, then my whole theory breaks down,” he said. “Darwin didn’t have the microelectronic microscope. We are able to see inside of atoms. The DNA is so complex that mathematicians are saying that there is no way that macro evolution occurred. Science is proving creation.“
Ah yes, the “microelectronic microscope.” That’s what enables creationists to perform the ritual of self-colonoscopy, which is essential for achieving the proper insights. We didn’t know such devices could also see inside of atoms. If only Darwin had one!
One last excerpt:
Louisiana’s textbook adoption process results in the replacement of textbooks for each subject every seven years. During the adoption process, the books are available for public viewing and public input in several locations around the state.
These are great days for the state of Louisiana. And with the science texts that will emerge from this brilliantly-conceived process, an even greater future lies ahead.
Copyright © 2010. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.
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The Sensuous Curmudgeon 
Let’s all vote for Explore Evolution!
Puleeeeeeeese!!!!
Doc Bill says:
Yeah. Explore Evolution is being touted by the Discoveroids. It’s the new Pandas.
Darwin didn’t have the microelectronic microscope. We are able to see inside of atoms.
Wow. Perhaps this guy should spend less time reviewing those textbooks and more time actually reading them.
eric says: “Darwin didn’t have the microelectronic microscope.”
That’s because they didn’t know about the two laws of thermonuclear dynamics back then.
I wonder if this is the same Mickey Cleveland? Ouachita Parish is where Mickey’s town of West Monroe is located.
( http://www.tigerforums.com/free-speech-alley/34064-intelligent-design-can-not-taught-pa-schools.html )
saltyone 12-20-2005, 09:11 PM
“Here is my junior high school principal Mickey Cleveland. This man truely walks with God and is doing a lot to help reclaim America. Robert Webber was my Jr.high football coach.
Quote:
Mickey Cleveland, former Ouachita Junior High School assistant principal, spends his resources and time traveling the lower 48 encouraging schools to add the Bible to their curriculum. The Ouachita Parish School Board passed a resolution Tuesday commending administrators and teachers for offering the bible in Literature and History as an elective in middle and high schools. Ouachita Parish took the lead and began offering the course at Ouachita Junior High school six years ago. Fourteen parishes across the state now offer the course and this year the parish added it in six schools. “I’m very proud of it,” Superintendent Robert Webber said. “The Bible defines our history in this country.” George Cannon, Monroe City Schools superintendent, said a Bible as Literature course is under consideration in his district. “
“Mickey Cleveland, former Ouachita Junior High School assistant principal, spends his resources and time traveling the lower 48 encouraging schools to add the Bible to their curriculum.”
Where does he get the money to do this? Is the pension plan there really that generous?
I think there are areas that no self-respecting “microelectronic microscope” will go. This qualifies as one of them.
“self-colonoscopy”
Over-the-top remark?–>They can’t do it because their head is in the way.
RogerE,
I for one have no problem with “Bible as literature” elective courses. Heck, done right they could eliminate a lot of misconceptions. The problem only arises when someone wants to teach creationism as science.
And putting on my Machieavelli hat, I’d be perfectly happy to let other people’s kids take such electives while my kid took some college-resume-boosting elective in math, music, science, history, Shakespeare, or whatever instead. Your kid’s basket-weaving is my kid’s ticket to Harvard (or wherever).
Hey, mock Mr. Cleveland all you want about the “microelectronic microscope”, but you have to admit he’s got a good point. If a theory is proved false, then that theory cannot stand. Darwin himself said that…you know, somewhere. Probably in one of those books he wrote.
The reason, Colin, that we mock Cleveland about the “microelectronic microscope” is that he has no hope of proving any theory false, because his knowledge of scientific theories is so limited.
In order to do science better than working scientists do it, you must first be able to do it AS WELL as they do it. Mr Cleveland doesn’t appear to know anything about any science.
“Bible as literature”?
Sure. Which version/which translation? There are hundreds of them, often depending on which Christian sect you belong to.
@Gabriel Hanna:
Sorry if it wasn’t clear – my comment above was sarcasm (I found the “if things can be proven against my theory, then my whole theory breaks down” line hilarious). I realize I should stop doing that, because there’s no good way to tell fake creationist befuddlement apart from the genuine article.
Anyway, I agree. I can’t comprehend how someone who knows so little about science could think that he knows better than the actual experts.
What weiiiighs more: the Bible, or the Bag-da-hava-gita?
Transcript from a future school board meeting in Louisiana:
“Welcome, citizens of (fill in the blank) Parish. Tonight, we will all vote to decide whether the Periodic Table of Elements will be removed from our schools’ chemistry texts. As you may know, there is no mention of the Periodic Table in the Bible, and many citizens have called for the removal of this atheistic influence from our classrooms…”
It could happen.