General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsShould Taxpayers Be Funding Private Schools That Teach Creationism?
Voucher programs have been established in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and they are spreading as Texas and Tennessee attempt to create ones of their own. As the use of vouchers has expanded across the country in recent years, new questions have arisen that extend beyond concerns about their appropriateness and legality. Weve pushed standards, testing and accountability for public schools, so why shouldnt private institutions receiving vouchers have to meet those same requirements? Should private institutions be allowed to ignore state science standards and teach their students creationism while receiving taxpayer money? Does learning about biblical creation, rather than evolution, really help to meet students needs?
I first investigated the relationship between creationism and voucher programs after reading an AlterNet article in June about Eternity Christian Academy in Louisiana. Now removed from the states voucher program, the school was using the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum to teach students that the mythical Loch Ness Monster existed and somehow disproved evolution. As I looked further into Louisianas program, I found that there wasnt just one school but at least 20 private ones getting vouchers and thus receiving millions of taxpayer dollars. After reviewing my research, New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist James Gill wrote that vouchers have turned out to be the answer to a creationists prayer.
This isnt just a Louisiana problem. It seems clear that the U.S. is facing a national creationism epidemic. In an exposé I wrote posted by MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, I identified hundreds of additional voucher schools in nine states and the District of Columbia using dozens of different creationist curriculums. These schools are receiving tens of millions of dollars, and maybe even hundreds of millions, to teach religious beliefs in violation of state science standards. With 164 such campuses, Floridas John M. McKay Scholarships for Students With Disabilities Program contained the highest concentration of creationist voucher schools I was able to uncover. Indiana, which has been marketed as the gold standard for voucher accountability, has at least 37 such schools teaching creationism. A couple of its campuses proudly advertise that their students are taken to the Creation Museum on field trips. So far, Ive discovered 311 creationist voucher schools across the country.
Those 311 schools are not the only taxpayer funded institutions teaching creationism. There are likely hundreds more. Although many are difficult to find, either because they dont have websites or dont advertise their creationist curriculum, lots of voucher schools fit the profile of creationist campuses that are already known. On top of this, two states, Arizona and Mississippi, have voucher programs but dont release the names of participating schools. Officials with the Arizona Department of Education confirmed to me that every private school in the state is eligible to participate in the program, and since Ive identified private creationist schools there that could be involved, there is little doubt that Arizona is funding some of them. I believe its a safe bet that every school voucher program in the country is financing creationism.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/should_taxpayers_be_funding_private_schools_that_teach_creationism_20130201/
Wounded Bear
(58,670 posts)rurallib
(62,423 posts)Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)If it isn't the answer is clearly no way.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Redfairen
(1,276 posts)Cerridwen
(13,258 posts)Should taxpayers fund private schools? No.
Should taxpayers fund political teachings anointed in snake-oil and deceptively baptized as "religion"? No.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)meow2u3
(24,764 posts)The long answer, HELL, NO--pun intended!
reteachinwi
(579 posts)So is segregation. What will happen after a few generations of students are taught about the War of Northern Aggression in their history classes?