Henry Should Veto Kern’s Religious Intrusion Act

(What exactly are these mixed vibes in Oklahoma City these days? Read DocHoc's commentary this week in the Oklahoma Gazette to find out.)

(Check out the sixteen reasons why Gov. Brad Henry should veto House Bill 2633 on Blue Oklahoma.)

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry should veto House Bill 2633, which contains a religious intrusion act that could help turn the state’s public schools into dark, oppressive theocratic institutions that reject science, critical inquiry and open discussion.

The act, sponsored by the right-wing extremist and gay-basher state Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City), pictured right, will encourage students to express their religious views at schools. Under the act, which has been passed by the House and Senate, teachers will not be able to penalize students if they promote religious views in assignments, such as science papers. In essence, the act can be seen as an attack on the scientific method, the foundation of modern medicine.

Deceptively titled, “The Religious Viewpoints Anti-discrimination Act,” the legislation would allow students to openly and consistently express their religious views throughout the school on a daily basis. These views, under the act, will have to be given as much weight as any so-called secular expression, which is essentially the foundation of education. Some students will obviously feel pressured to join the new Christian organizations on campuses. Teachers could feel pressure to dumb down the curriculum for those students using their religion as an excuse not to complete a difficult assignment. Students will be afraid to express secular views in an intolerant religious environment. Students holding religious views outside of Christianity could feel harassed and intimidated.

These bogus “ant-discrimination” acts have been popping up in state legislatures throughout the country. Texas recently passed such an act. They are supported by the radical Christian right and those politicians who fear it, and the true aim is to bring fundamental Christianity into schools. Many people may see these bills as innocuous, but there are quite dangerous to our country’s educational system.

The local corporate media, of course, has not reported fairly on this measure, often excluding those educators who adamantly oppose the bill. The GOP’s state propaganda ministry, The Oklahoman editorial page, has been virtually silent on the measure even though it criticized Kern recently for her infamous rant against gay people.

Kern embarrasses the state on a colossal level, tarnishing the state’s image and hurting it economically, and then gets her way in turning our schools into intolerant, religious bastions. Where is the state leadership on this issue? Who will stand up for academic integrity and critical inquiry in our schools?

The bill is now waiting for Henry’s signature. The governor should veto this Dark-Ages bill, and we all should all be reminded The Oklahoman should never be taken seriously again about anything it says on its editorial page about improving education and educational opportunity in the state.