Comments on: Creationist Texan Lawmaker Embarrasses Self, Texas, Nation, Humanity

By: D. C. Sessions

D. C. Sessions — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:10:06 +0000

Haven’t enough Yankees moved into your state to overcome this endemic yahooism?

Put on the scientist hat, please — the Yankee influx would only make a difference if there were no selection bias in favor of yahoo Yankees.

By: MikeMa

MikeMa — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:49:37 +0000

The theory might be to make true the idea that there are lots of degreed scientists that agree with ID or creationism. Now when the bozos claim that we know they are lying.

By: Russell

Russell — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:15:24 +0000

Hmmm… that’s an interesting aspect of this, Greg. I would hope that public schools hire only teachers with degrees from accredited programs. Don’t know if that is the case or not.

In theory, I have nothing against any diploma mill issuing a masters or Ph.D. in whatever it wants. In practice, I want public schools and colleges not hiring faculty with degrees from diploma mills or fake programs.

By: Sam C

Sam C — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:27:54 +0000

Would it be OK if the Institute for Creationist Rubbish issued Masters in Religion – which would be accurate?

Democracy is most definitely a two-edged sword.

By: Raiko

Raiko — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:04:19 +0000

Creationists love the argument from authority – this is just a very sad and obvious try to actually GET that authority in some way or another… or at least something that looks like it.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:44:14 +0000

Josh: I’m not certain, but I think that this is the point. The whole plan here is to get valid MA’s or MS’s in the hands of teachers who are actually stealth creationists. This is step one in a multistep process that may end up with the teaching of creationism in a given school be an HR and professional issue with Masters-holding creationist teachers at the center of various law suits. Plus, this just gives the creationists a longer list of certified-looking people arguing for the teaching of creationism i public schools.

By: Joshua Zelinsky

Joshua Zelinsky — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:41:12 +0000

Greg, could you clarify something I’ve been a bit unclear on? If this legislation passes would these degrees matter for purposes that Texas cares about degrees such as calculating public school teachers’ pay?

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:35:05 +0000

Russell: The problem is that a nefarious schoolboard can hire teachers with masters degrees in education and biology who are actually creationists.

By: Russell

Russell — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:33:09 +0000

Y’all are getting your panties twisted over not much at all. There already are all sorts of diploma mills and schools that fail to educate in the fields where they grant degrees. What is a degree in biology from Liberty University worth?

By: chris

chris — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:28:33 +0000

In theory, then, if this bill passes, Miss Cleo could open a school in Texas and offer a MS in astrology, right? As long as she doesn’t take any state or federal funding.

Maybe she could hire Professor Behe as the Dean.