The Orleans Parish School Board, which controls the curriculum and policies for six schools in New Orleans, voted Tuesday to ban the teaching of creationism as science and a “revisionist” history course touted in Texas.
Although none of these six New Orleans schools currently teaches creationism or “intelligent design,” outgoing Orleans Parish School Board President Thomas Robichaux is making sure they never will, The Times-Picayune first reported in November.
The newly approved policy bans teachers from including “any aspect of religious faith” in science courses and from using history textbooks adjusted to include Christianity.
The first part regarding textbooks reads: “No history textbook shall be approved which has been adjusted in accordance with the State of Texas revisionist guidelines nor shall any science textbook be approved which presents creationism or intelligent design as science or scientific theories.”
The second part delves specifically into teaching: “No teacher of any discipline of science shall teach any aspect of religious faith as science or in a science class. No teacher of any discipline of science shall teach creationism or intelligent design in classes designated as science classes.”
Well, good for them!
I've been to New Orleans a couple of times, always for math conferences. The first time I was on the job market. I was up for a position at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, in the Northern part of the state. I mentioned to the cab driver who took me from the airport to my hotel that I might be moving to his state. He shook his head vigorously. Then he said, in a Cajun accent so think I could barely understand him, “Ya coming to Louisiana, ya go to N'awlins. Ya not going to N'awlins, ya best just stay where yer at!”
On a more recent trip I had an alligator po boy. It definitely ranks among the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. Right up there with a Katz's pastrami sandwich or the number one at Hoagie Haven in Princeton, NJ (just in case anyone reading this knows the place). At one point the chef even came out to explain to me, in detail, why his gator was so much better than the crap served at all the neighboring restaurants. It was something about the special marinade he used.
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"Ya not going to N’awlins, ya best just stay where yer at!”
from what I hear.. wise advice.
hey Jason.. what is your FIDE rating?
OT, but as I predicted more then a year ago, the new Jack Reacher movie is getting the thumbs down from fans of the novels, mainly because of 5 '7", 160 lb Tom Cruise playing 6' 5", 250 lb Jack Reacher.
Kevin --
Alas, I'm not a strong enough player to be noticed by FIDE. My USCF rating is 1911, which makes me a “Class A” player.
SLC --
Yes, I thought Tom Cruise was a poor choice. And, frankly, the scenes in the advertisements and trailers I've seen are not promising. My recent back injury has kept me out of the movie theaters for a while, but I still plan to go see it anyway.
I think the local universities have played a role in getting New Orleans schools up and running after Katrina. Perhaps there is a connection.
I lived in New Orleans for four years getting PhD at Tulane. I always enjoy going back for meetings, etc.
Tom Cruse as Jack Reacher is about as miscast as it gets. I don't do movies much, but may watch, and sneer, when It comes on TV.