Activist again seeks to repeal Louisiana’s creationism law

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Activist Zack Kopplin announced Monday he was re-launching his campaign to repeal a law that allows public schools to teach creationism as science in Louisiana.

In a statement published Monday, Kopplin said he believes “that this spring we can muster the votes we need to pass” a repeal of the Louisiana Science Education Act. State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson (D) has filed a bill to repeal the law.

Peterson proposed identical legislation in 2011 and in 2012, but the bills were killed in committee.

The LSEA, signed into law by Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal in 2008, purportedly promotes critical thinking and open discussion about scientific theories such as evolution and global warming. Proponents of the law said it encouraged academic freedom, but critics were quick to point out that it allows local school boards to approve supplemental classroom materials that espouse creationism.

State Sen. Ben Nevers (D) said in 2008 he proposed the law at the urging of the Louisiana Family Forum, a conservative Christian group.

“They believe that scientific data related to creationism should be discussed when dealing with Darwin’s theory,” he explained.