Oppose HB 25: Sample Letter to State Representatives

The letter below concerning HB 25 was written by our very own Mims H. Carter. You can find another great one at Sappari, Zenzen. I will add mine as soon as I finish it. My next task will involve drafting a letter to the editor of my local newspaper, but one thing at a time. This is simply too important to stay on the sidelines.

Dear Representative Peranich,

I just heard that Representative Chism has introduced H.B. 25, requiring that all textbooks in the state that discuss evolution contain a disclaimer that evolution is a controversial theory and that it can't explain certain observable facts about the history of life on our planet. I can't begin to tell you how wrong the whole text of the bill is. The last paragraph detailing the Cambrian explosion, the lack
of transitional species, and the lack of 'instructions' to create complex life - all of this is wrong. I don't know where these ideas comes from, but current evolutionary theory has very cogent explanations for all of these things. Evolution is not a controversial theory except in the minds of a scientifically ignorant cadre of anti-science extremists, who unfortunately wield influence far beyond their intellectual capacities and scientific understanding. The fact that it hasn't answered all questions about the history of life on our planet does not mean that evolution is not the best current theoretical framework we have, and 150 years of research, study and constant criticism has only proved how powerful this theory is.

Coming on a day when we just found out we lead the nation in teen-age pregnancy, a tragedy which we can also lay at the feet of extremist s who won't allow a rational sex education curriculum in our schools, I fear for our young people, including my own daughter and her schoolmates.

Shall we put caveats on our geology textbooks that the theory that the earth is round is only a theory? Shall we caution that the germ theory of disease can't explain every illness and so therefore we should not trust it? Should we add astrology to our astronomy curriculum?

We need to provide the best education we can to our children in all subjects and at all levels.

To paraphrase the great mathematician and philosopher of science Bertrand Russell, yes, we should study hard and keep and open mind, but not so open that our brains fall out.

Sincerely yours,

Mims H. Carter
Pass Christian

Tags: HB 25, Mississippi, science education, science, education, evolution