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from the dept. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry vetoed the controversial “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act” on Friday after pressure from science educators nationwide, including ABS past president Doug Mock. A Senate amendment to the bill stated that “students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions…Students shall not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work.” Doug's letter (based on a letter by UMD student Holly Menninger)is appended below. For more information on the bill and surrounding controversy, see the American Institute of Biological Sciences’ position statement ; and the Tulsa World’s editorial opposing the bill and news story on the veto The veto of this bill constitutes an important victory against efforts to impose narrow religious views on science education. However, these efforts are ongoing nationwide, for example in my home state of Texas . ABS as a society has a vested interest in promoting science education, and Doug and ABS president Jerry Wilkinson have asked me, as outgoing Public Affairs Chair, to emphasize how important it is for us to get engaged, as individuals and as a professional society, in the discourse on science education in our home states . ****letter from Doug Mock below**** May 16, 2008 The Honorable Brad Henry Dear Governor Henry: I am writing today on behalf of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) to express concern about the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, which was added as an amendment to HB 2633. If signed into law, this provision will seriously compromise science education in Oklahoma. ABS is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of approximately 2,000 scientists and educators across the United States and around the world. ABS is dedicated to advancing biological research and education for the welfare of society, specifically on subjects pertaining to how and why animals do the amazing things they do. These mysteries cannot possibly be understood well without the conceptual framework of evolutionary biology, as currently taught in numerous courses at the University of Oklahoma and throughout the state. The Senate amendment to HB 2633 grants permission to individuals with specific, narrow religious agendas to disrupt the teaching of evolutionary science in Oklahoma public school classrooms. This legislation would allow non-scientific concepts, such as creationism and "intelligent design," to be taught as scientific principles. Quite simply, these are religious belief systems and not science. To require that teachers accept non-scientific explanations for natural phenomena is counter to quality science education. Further, it risks setting the students of Oklahoma well behind their national and international counterparts. Supernatural explanations for natural phenomena as espoused by the author of this amendment are not scientifically testable and for centuries have not been accepted as science. The biologists and science educators represented by ABS, and the scientific community as a whole, agree that there is no research supporting either creationism or "intelligent design," or challenging the importance of evolution for explaining the history and diversity of life. Thus, pseudoscientific ideas like creationism and "intelligent design" have no place in the science classroom, and, therefore, do not deserve special protection by the law. The future educational, employment, and economic growth potential of Oklahoma and the United States depends upon a scientifically literate workforce and a population capable of making informed decisions. A strong foundation in science, that includes a basic understanding of the tenets of evolution, is required to fuel the advances in research, development, and innovation that will help Oklahoma increase its economic opportunities from science and technology, including the biotechnology and biomedical sectors. In closing, I ask you to veto HB 2633, given it contains this onerous provision. If I can be of assistance to you in your deliberations, please do not hesitate to contact me (at 405-325-4821) or current ABS President, Gerald S. Wilkinson (at 301-405-6942). Sincerely, Douglas W. Mock, Past-president < Postdoc or Research Technician Position - Songbird Physiology and Behaviour | Volunteer Field Assistants for Rattlesnake Research in Alberta >
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After letter from ABS past president, Oklahoma governor vetoes bill curtailing science education
