And we’re talking about bigots and creationists in Alberta, which I figure is more or less the Canadian equivalent of Texas …. the dumbest province in the Great White North.
Starting this coming school year, parents will be able to “opt” their children “out” of certain lessons, such as those that deal in any way with Teh Gay, or with religion. Apparently, it is thought that science that conflicts with religion will be counted as religion, so that means kids can get out of science classes.
And I would not assume that this applies only to evolution. Math, physics, all of it conflicts with religion (especially physics …. the evidence for an old earth comes from that field of science, not evolution).
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or Paperback
*Please note:
Links to books and other items on this page and elsewhere on Greg Ladens' blog may send you to Amazon, where I am a registered affiliate. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps to fund this site.
Maybe its the oil in the ground….
Most right wing nuttery emerged from Alberta…Social Credit, the Reform Party…Harper…Stockwell Day…and they have a real bible belt too, not too far from the Tyrell Museum ironically enough
Part of the issue with Alberta as Texas is that you have to take the leftward slant of Canadian politics into account to begin with, which means even taking that into account it trends more liberal than most “blue” states in the US.
But yeah, sex-ed was always a bit behind the curve when I was going through the public school system in Edmonton, and up until grade 8, a lot of sex ed was “opt out” Never had a problem with learning evolution in biology classes though.
Peter, I think you’re onto something. Usually, I have immediately blamed the water supply when wingnuttery arises, but I realize now that it’s more likely the oil.
Alberta, Texas, Saudi Arabia, it all fits! It’s the oil!
Now I wonder if Fox Mulder realizes…
Dunno ’bout Alberta, but Texas’ title isn’t going unchallenged.
When I lived in Vancouver BC in the mid-nineties, Alberta, especially rural Alberta, was considered a conservative backwater by most Canadians I knew.
It really has a lot of the same features as rural Texas: rodeo, rifles, cowboy hats, pickup trucks, etc.
Unfortunately the absurdity isn’t entirely limited to Alberta up here. If you want to get a face-full of woo in the form of psychics, homeopaths, and naturopaths, then B.C. is the place to go.
Then again, it’s hard to walk around Toronto without passing by at least one of these con-artists’ digs.
I feel lucky to be in the US where everybody is rational.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Keegstra
Here’s a paper I wrote in May 2009 on Bill 44 and the “parental rights” movement in the US and Alberta.
http://www.cficanada.ca/calgary/news/parental_rights_and_bill_44/
On other news from CFI Canada, congratulations to Nate Phelps on being hired as executive director for CFI Calgary.