Beware of God

In Sisters, Oregon, a substitute biology teacher was fired not for preaching Islamic Jihad, not for possession of child pornography, but much worse: passing out an article in favor of intelligent design.

Alongside of pro-evolutionary materials, Kris Helphinstine introduced a creationist perspective from Ken Hamm, the founder of Answers in Genesis, in an effort to encourage critical thinking in the classroom.

Also included in the controversy was a PowerPoint presentation that correctly linked eugenics experiments with Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood. Historically accurate - eugenics science encouraged the Holocaust; Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, was an impassioned eugenist. Although the 27 year old substitute teacher wasn't using the soapbox as an outlet to preach creationism, he had apparently broken the law regardless.

In his explanation for the firing, Michael Gould, the president of Sisters School District Board reminds us that sensitivity, not education, is the top priority:

"I thought he departed from the accepted curriculum... and he exercised poor judgment on some material in a sensitive arena."

Mark Looy of Answers in Genesis offered his input:

"The sad incident in central Oregon exposes the general state of America’s public schools. You don’t even have to teach creation in school, but if you quote a creationist writer and also question evolution, you can be fired."

Or compared to 9/11 hijackers - last November, David Van Biema of Time magazine did just that:

"…a growing proportion of the profession is experiencing what one major researcher calls 'unprecedented outrage' at perceived insults to research and rationality, ranging from the alleged influence of the Christian right on Bush Administration science policy to the fanatic faith of the 9/11 terrorists to intelligent design's ongoing claims. Some are radicalized enough to publicly pick an ancient scab: the idea that science and religion, far from being complementary responses to the unknown, are at utter odds…."

Helphinstine shares his reaction with The Oregonian:

"I thought, 'Hey, this is a great chance to get kids thinking, I did not realize how sensitive it was in this specific community."

Sorry, Kris. In our public schools, sensativity matters; but not so much facts. But more importantly, you shouldn't talk about Nazi Germany without equating them with Jerry Falwell or George Bush. And anything that even remotely contradicts evolutionary biology, including The Bible itself, will not sit well with the nanny state.

And Kris, if you ever consider homeschooling your children, don't do it in Germany. Evidently, it's still a fascist hell of a country.