US News Alabama will require students to learn about evolution, climate change

[tom_mai78101]

Alabama is updating its decade-old science standards to require that students understand evolution and learn about climate change, topics that can still be controversial in the Bible Belt state.

Educators say the new rules — part of a major change that includes more experimentation and hands-on instruction and less lecturing — don't require that students believe in evolution or accept the idea that climate is changing globally.

But public school students will be required for the first time to understand the theory of evolution. And teachers will be required to address climate change, which wasn't a focus the last time the state set science standards in 2005.

The new standards take effect in 2016 after being unanimously approved by the Republican-controlled Alabama State Board of Education on Thursday.

No one spoke against the new standards when they were discussed at a board meeting in August, but supporters praised them as a step forward for the state.

A 40-member committee that developed the new course of study included people with "very strong religious beliefs" who considered the state's faith traditions and worked together to develop the new guidelines, said Michal Robinson, science specialist for the state education agency.

Ala. requiring students to study evolution, climate change

Educators say the new rules don't require students believe in evolution or that climate is changing globally.

www.al.com

 

[Accname]

Well thanks obama.

 

[Varine]

Not the state I would have expected.

Alabama is updating its decade-old science standards to require that students understand evolution

Well what the fuck did they update then? This isn't a very new subject.

 

[KMilz]

Not sure, but I imagine they taught both evolution and some sort of Creationist perspective side-by-side, giving the students the chance to "choose" which idea resonated best with them.