[Dali]

This is more of a gesture than anything. I've already said that science classes in school aren't known to influence a child's religious beliefs, especially if they live in a devout household where they study their religious scriptures and values on a weekly if not daily basis.

Its giving legal backbone to parents that wish to cripple their children's development. A quote in the article from one of the amendment's sponsors says its a gesture, but will it be just a gesture when a kid's parents sue a school system for failing their kids in Biology, citing this amendment as the basis of the lawsuit?

I don't understand what the people who would vote for this are afraid of. I mean obviously they didn't have any trouble hiding their heads in the sand when they were in school, so why do their kids need legislation to help them?

[Darklord]

Why do religious types not want their kids to learn about science anyway? keep your enemies closer and all that

Because I think deep down, deep under the indoctrination, they realize how crazy the things they say sound and that intelligence just shines a light on to that fact.

[ThisWreckage]

You don't have to worry about parents ruining the development of their children. Public education already has that covered.

[B-Dubs]

Dumbest thing I have ever heard.

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Wait, there is nothing about the Missouri thing that will let them. That's something I think the people supporting the rule have to be determined by individual school districts.

That being said, the law seems to be redundant oand overly broad. But, many laws are written braodly and left open to interpretation later.

[SteveWinwood]

Of course it's missouri.

Wish I still lived there to vote against this stupid shit.

[Gaston]

Why Missouri...

[el retorno]

We have these idiots, but at the same time we have the geniuses who put a rover on Mars.....

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Why Missouri...

Because its Missouri.

[Dali]

Why Missouri...

They wanted to ring-in their SEC debut in true SEC fashion.

[thesoapster]

We have these idiots, but at the same time we have the geniuses who put a rover on Mars.....

It's a true melting pot.

[SteveWinwood]

They wanted to ring-in their SEC debut in true SEC fashion.

Columbia (where mizzou is) is usually a blue dot swimming in the sea of red.

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

Its giving legal backbone to parents that wish to cripple their children's development. A quote in the article from one of the amendment's sponsors says its a gesture, but will it be just a gesture when a kid's parents sue a school system for failing their kids in Biology, citing this amendment as the basis of the lawsuit? I don't understand what the people who would vote for this are afraid of. I mean obviously they didn't have any trouble hiding their heads in the sand when they were in school, so why do their kids need legislation to help them?

Wait, what? How would this happen? If the student (or their parent) opts out of Biology then how can the parent sue the school if their child fails the class they left?

[Razgriz-Specter]

This is really stupid. If someone wants to be stupid thats fine, just not on the governments money.

Put anyone that opts out on a list and ban them from public office, police etc, in the future.

[plasticpassion]

Considering how idiotic most students are, I do not ever see this being a good idea.

[Micerider]

We have these idiots, but at the same time we have the geniuses who put a rover on Mars.....

But one day, the geniuses might not be allowed to learn how to put that rover on Mars anymore...

[Dali]

Wait, what? How would this happen? If the student (or their parent) opts out of Biology then how can the parent sue the school if their child fails the class they left?

It allows for them to opt out of assignments.

[Izayoi]

Please get with the program already America. It's just getting hard to watch a country like yours, which all scientific achievements, slowly committing suicide by ignorance. Don't make Idiocracy look like something that might actually become true.

Trust me, the half of the country that can still think is trying its very hardest.

:(

[News Bot]

Maybe Missouri has actually done a good thing. Maybe we can use the opt-out list to ensure that none of these fuckers ever get a job in a high position.

[astroturfing]

truly bizarre.

[Bubble Metropolis]

I wonder how long until someone abuses the hell out of this? "My religion doesn't believe in math so I don't have to do this homework"

[Blackace]

Those two things overlap.

Actually they don't... Many of the greatest scientific minds were heavily religious.. Devot. Religion can't take the L for that..

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

It allows for them to opt out of assignments.

So how can they pass? Its simple logic. If you dont do the work, you dont pass.

[Uchip]

first Korea takes a big step backwards and now this
we should just start the witch hunts already

[richiek]

Missouri

Never has this been more appropriate:

[Smiles and Cries]

Oh when the saints... ate my homework

I think everyone who feels this way should home school their kids, and allow the rest of the public to learn in peace

[Boss Doggie]

We have these idiots, but at the same time we have the geniuses who put a rover on Mars.....

No they'll say it was all "God's will"

[Orayn]

So how can they pass? Its simple logic. If you dont do the work, you dont pass.

It depends. Similar legislation has been thrown around that would basically let the kid off the hook on the grounds that it wouldn't be fair for them to fail for not doing assignments that supposedly blaspheme their religious beliefs. Whether or not that's the case here is hard to say.

There may be "GEE, NEOGAF, WHY DO ALL OF YOU HAVE TO BE SUCH BIGOTS WHO HATE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE?" posts over this. If that happens, things will get messy, popcorn GIFs will be posted, and names may go gray.

[The Technomancer]

Oh christ on a cracker...

[Dali]

So how can they pass? Its simple logic. If you dont do the work, you dont pass.

And yet still teachers are questioning how it would work in practice. If a student feels an assignment is infringing on his/her religious beliefs then will they be given a religion friendly alternative assignment to supplement the points (even if such an alternative doesn't have the educational value of the original assignment). Will they be allowed to be given a zero or would a zero be stepping on their rights to exert their religious freedom?

So, if the amendment passes, what constitutes a religious belief? Can a student decide they can’t do their chemistry homework because covalent bonds go against their religion? And if they opt out of a biology assignment because they don’t believe in evolution can they still pass the course? “That’s the big question," Petersen says. "I don’t know.”

http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org/p...-voters-decide

[cajunator]

As a Catholic, this is a STUPID idea.

[Ebris]

Why God why.

[godelsmetric]

Vile. This is how Dark Ages start.

[SyNapSe]

So how can they pass? Its simple logic. If you dont do the work, you dont pass.

From what the article said I don't think it's intended to allow them out of assignments. It's intended to allow you to not take an entire course if it was against your religious beliefs. Which isn't really a problem anyway so I have no idea why this is going to vote; I don't think any public school runs a required full class on an individual religion. There are concerns people will sue for the ability to avoid assignments based on the amendment.

It seems unnecessary and is probably only going to pass due to them being pretty deceptive with the summary that will show up on the ballot. They shouldn't be allowed to put that summary up for the amendment. Does no one watchdog that or can you put whatever you want in the summary area?

[Solstice]

Vile. This is how Dark Ages start.

My thought exactly.

[Dali]

Edited OP to correct a mistake in my understanding.

Nvm. Original OP was correct.

[Yagharek]

Oh christ on a cracker...

Opt out of play lunch?

[Fusebox]

Lalalalalalala not listening!

[Bamelin]

It's not just science you know. This will allow kids to opt out of same sex Ed. (or any sex Ed for that matter)

[Clevinger]

gooooood bleeeesss amuuuuuriiicaaaa

[ClassyPenguin]

It's not just science you know. This will allow kids to opt out of same sex Ed. (or any sex Ed for that matter)

I always get mad as hell at this and the sort of mental gymnastics the religious do to be anti-sex ed or anti-science.

And this with the South having the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the country.

[The Technomancer]

And this with the South having the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the country.

There's no HIV risk if you don't have sex. Clearly abstinence only education is the best way to educate teens.

[Patryn]

I'm convinced one of the major reasons religious people fear and shun science is that they were either too stupid or lazy to actually try to learn it. And then religion comes along and says "Don't worry your pretty head, all you need to do is believe this simple explanation for things!" Then when they get older, they don't want to be shown up by their children, so they force the same ignorance on them.

[Avixph]

As a Catholic, this is a STUPID idea.

Glad I am not the only catholic with that opinion here.

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

It's like they're going backwards.

A few years from now.
'Why aren't we a super power any more?
How have we fallen so far.'

[GaimeGuy]

Why do religious types not want their kids to learn about science anyway? keep your enemies closer and all that

Absolutely ridiculous. I'm not religious, but there is nothing inherently "anti-religious" about science. For many brilliant thinkers past and present, science and the study thereof is a way for mankind to better understand god's creation. Do scientific findings sometimes clash with religion? Yes. But that doesn't mean they're inherently oppoesd.

Science allows us to better comprehend the finite and comprehensible, while religion helps us deal with the unfathomable, the inifinite, and cope with tragedy.

The issue is that humanity over time begins to decipher phenomena that were once considered supernatural/unfathomable, and some people have difficulty dealing with this transition.

[Raist]

Well, they do have the right to remain ignorant, I guess.

[timmy]

It's like they're going backwards.

Not exactly ironic for a group of folks denying the existence of evolution.

[slit]

I thought you could already do that in most of the country anyway.

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Well, they do have the right to remain ignorant, I guess.

They had a hard time giving up slavery, what do people expect?