>

America, the fuck?
The legislation’s sponsor says by banning scientific theories, the policy aims to prevent kids from being taught things that aren’t true.

I think I have to go sit down for a while. I don't know how to process such an absurd sentence. I don't understand how there are adults, who were voted into office, in this world, in this time period, who...
We have passed peak IQ. We're done. >

I feel like I read that IQ did peak in the 90s because of CO2 in the atmosphere. I can't find it now though so don't treat that like a fact or anything. Good thing I'm not in Montana. >

Well no, it's a hypothesis. It would be difficult proving a causal link with so many confounding variables. >

Now, I ain't no country chicken, and I'm not a city lawyer.  I do however, know for a fact, that when two men sit down together to share a casual link at breakfast, it by no means has to be Jimmy Dean, and I can call those men homophrodites.  It is well within my rights under the first commandment to throw stones at those who have sinned.  I rest my face. >

This feels so Futurama >

Exactly ~~what~~ where I was ~~ripping off~~ drawing inspiration from! >

Maybe they should require a GED to hold public office in Montana? >

Lauren Bobert has entered the chat. >

Only took her what, three tries?
Still better than McCarthy's speaker vote! >

The fact she won at all. And the won reelection is why I've lost all faith in humanity. >

The fact that she barely won in my Uber conservative district, restored my faith in humanity. >

This is what a lot of people don't get.  They redistricted to what should have been a more favorable demographic and she baaaaaarely won.  Lots of people regardless of political affiliation hate her.  I was not amused when I realized that my rep was now her after the redistricting.  Fuck that bitch, hopefully we can muster enough people next time around. >

How is it still legal to "redistrict" an area to affect election outcomes? I ask out of genuine curiosity, as a non-American. I'm pretty sure that can't be done where I am from. >

State legislatures draw the districts on maps. They are told how many districts they have to draw bu the federal Congress. Then partisan legislators try to draw as many 51% districts that they can for their side while packing as many of their opponents into a single district that they can. So whoever wins the most state legislature seats wields a lot of power when we do a census and redistrict every 10 years. >

That sounds sketchy as hell. >

That's because it is. >


The bill is sponsored by freshman Republican Senator Daniel Emrich from Great Falls. In his testimony, Emrich said the bill would make sure students are taught what a scientific fact is.  
"If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false assumptions," Emrich said.

Emrich stringing words together will no basic understanding of the scientific method. >

Some Dem should agree with him and insist on an addition that requires that all schools should have to teach that no religion has any basis in provable fact. After all, we don't want our children being taught information that can't be proven, now do we? >

But the Bible says ... >

Well, if it's in the Bible, then it must be true!  How do we know this?  Well, the Bible says so!  Q.E.D. >

And thus God vanished in a puff of logic. (There’s some Douglas Adams quote that goes after the QED). >

Then man went on to prove that black is white and got himself killed at the next zebra crossing. >

Not living in the UK, it took me YEARS to realize "zebra crossing" is a name for the marked off pedestrian crossing lanes.
I thought he was trampled by hooves. >

I missed the joke that Ford had misidentified the dominant species on earth and that's why he called himself Ford Prefect.  A Prefect is a car model only in the UK. >

"If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, 
it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false 
assumptions," Emrich said
Clearly he has no idea what the definition of scientific theory is, what it does, how it is arrived at and how science advances by the repeated examination of theories works. He could probably do with a good BA degree, if he could get into college that is. >

We learned the scientific method in middle school on the East coast. I had no idea what kind of weaponized ignorance we were up against until this day. >

If we consider the theory of gravity in our calculations, we might be making a false assumption. Better to not get involved in anything requiring the understanding of falling objects. >

I’ll let go of an anvil over him. After all, it’s just a theory the anvil will fall downwards, for all we know it could fall upwards. >

This is actually true. There is no guarantee that gravity isn't a force that changes polarity every 2 trillion years or something. >

Right, but scientific theories are there to help us predict what will happen. And the odds of gravity changing in such a way would be incomprehensible small and not even worth considering. >

Maybe, if gravity was a particle's position at a given time.  It's not.  It's a fundamental force.  Also that's not strictly the purpose of a theory.  A theory is just the best explanation of a phenomenon based on all possible information.  Yes, some parts of a theory will be refined over time but it's not suddenly going to be false because chance. >

I recommend him climbing a tall ladder and testing out the "theory of gravity" and tell us what he thinks afterwards. >

Parachute use has not been shown to decrease deaths. So he should not use a parachute when he skydives. >

This is the funniest paper ive ever read >

There is a radiology paper that I read a long time ago that quantified different sayings for frequency. Something like “once in a blue moon” means 1.4% of the time. I wish that I had saved it. >

Some cursory research did not locate this article. damn it sounds hilarious >

It’s one of my greatest professional regrets that I did not copy the paper that I held in my hands. >

Man, this Bill guy sounds like an asshole. >

Honestly, who is this Bill guy? I hear about him pretty often and he tends to have a lot of bad ideas. Not sure why the media pays him so much attention. >

By that logic then, I would assume that they are ok with banning religion in all forms in schools as that is just a bunch of shit you can’t prove 100%. >

I’ve heard people claim that the Bible is the basis for science, or is some great scientific resource. So if they want to ban scientific theories and they maintain the Bible is a valid scientific theory for our origin… >

Oh believe me, these groups are Olympians when it comes to mental gymnastics.
It will simultaneously be regarded as scientific fact and be allowed in schools because it's somehow also beneficial to the students.
I legitimately cannot think how they'd try to defend it but I know they'll find a way. >

simple: "it's the absolute word of god and this country was built as a christian nation."
you don't even have to equate it with the scientific theory thing, you side step it entirely with that 'gem' of reasoning. all you have to do is state something undeniably popular with people who don't think much, then it becomes the 'retort' to the argument you side-stepped. >

Great Falls? Jackass is from My city?! Already loathed Montana Republican class traitors and carpetbaggers but now it's personal! >

Take his seat!!!!! 😈 >

If I still lived there, I'd be bloody tempted to try! Great Falls should be better. Someone should get the trout to vote. >

I’m really no longer surprised to see republicans striving to bring the US into the dark ages. >

It is funny, because their European dark ages were happening during the Islamic Golden Era. Probably mad they had to learn Arabic numbers. >

There was no european dark age. The so called dark ages were called that by historians during the rennaissance who wanted to set themselves as better than the times before them. >

Even the Medieval age in Europe had churches and monasteries dedicated to archival and often scientific research. The fact that some people in power in modern America have stooped lower than that is both ironic and sad. >

I'm low key laughing at the concept of them taking this and running with it in the scientific sense. Given that a "theory" is actually the body of evidence that supports factual findings and explains a mechanism by which those phenomena function, the bill wouldn't ban the phenomena, but ban teachers from explaining how it works. 
Biology:
"Yes students. This will be on the test; Evolution of species is a phenomena that has been observed and is considered to be the reason that humanity and life is in its current form."
"But wait professor, we know that evolution is factual and observable reality, but how does it work?"
"Well, it works via a mechanism called Natural Selection theory of evolution, but explaining how things work is illegal, so I cannot teach you how natural selection works. Now, onto the next subject. I can tell you the phenomena, that people are able to become ill, become sick, and die. But because theory is, again, the body of evidence that explains an observed phenomena, I'm not allowed to teach germ theory, which gets into the concepts of pathogens and microbiological organisms."
"Does that mean we don't have to wash our hands anymore?"
"No. You still have to wash your hands. The Republicans just made it a felony to explain why you have to wash your hands."
Geology:
"Alright class. For your test next week we need you to remember the observable phenomena, that continents move and are not in the same place that they were millions of years ago. They continue to move as well. You will also need to know that mountains can form, and so can crevasses, usually in the ocean."
"But professor, why do those things happen? Surely the mountains don't just spring out of nowhere? Is it a mystery?
"Oh not at all. It's a well known and studied body of evidence that explains it, called the Plate Tectonic theory. But Republicans made it illegal to teach people how things work. So you have to know that it happens, but I cannot teach you how it works anymore."
Physics:
"Alright, it's very important for everyone to know this. There are many observable phenomena in the world of physics. Most well known is the fact that things fall towards the earth when you drop them."
"Oh! Professor, I know what that is! It's called gravity!"
"Well, it's possible that it's gravity. However, Gravitational theory, the body of evidence that explains how it works, is illegal for me to teach you. Science has long established how it works, measured it and have worked to apply it to nearly every facet of your life. Nothing you can experience is divorced from the facts that it has established. However, because of Republican education, your education will begin and end at "things fall, don't ask why". >

Physicist here: there’s something you’re messing up in this analogy a bit. A physical or mathematical theory isn’t the same thing as a philisophical theory, which is what all of the other examples are. A physical theory is a mathematical framework which produces some predictions based on a set of assumptions. Physical theories can be proposed to describe some phenomenon, but it’s not necessary to earn the name “theory”. 
Often, a mathematical framework is developed to describe some phenomenon and it’s discovered that the candidate phenomenon is not observable for some reason. The status of the theory here described is not jeaprodized by that fact, technically. 
Tldr: the definition you learn in school/see on wikipedia might be fine for most popular references e.g. theory of evolution, but theory means different things in different contexts. It’s a matter of some controversy that “theory”, “law”, and “hypothesis” are so heavily influenced in primary/secondary education. >

Okay, gotcha, I appreciate the correction. So if we wanted to correct the "Physics Class" analogy to accurately show the point I'm trying to make, what would that dialogue look like instead? >


The bill is sponsored by freshman Republican Senator Daniel Emrich from Great Falls. In his testimony, Emrich said the bill would make sure students are taught what a scientific fact is.

Wonder what church he goes to. >

Church of Christian Facts >

Christian Fascists >

Text of the bill here.
In short, he wants to ban any discussion of science from science class by censoring "scientific theories" (eg. evolution, relativity, gravity, motion, germs, etc), forcing MT teachers only to discuss "scientific facts", which literally are not a thing. 🤔 >

He didn’t finish high school, so that probably explains why he doesn’t know what a science class is. >

From his FB profile:
"Hi i am Daniel Were to start. I love to spend time with friends and family, I'm christian and proud of it,I love the out doors i like soccer basketball volleyball hunt fish camp love to have fun. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find i lived the length of it but not the width the depth or the breath of my life."
Next he's gonna want to ban grammar, spelling and punctuation from English class I bet. >

My "Republicans are Stupid Theory" is being proven by this assclown.  It shall now be taught as "Republicans are Stupid, FACT. " >

This is a veiled attempt to try to get creationism taught in schools. One of the attacks creationists make against evolution is that it's a theory and not a fact. They completely misunderstand the concept of scientific theory, or willfully misrepresent what it is to try to sway the under educated. >

Yep, this is just « Intelligent Design » in another package. >

The guy's facebook page is a dumpster fire of anti-vax, anti-"woke", anti-CRT, election denial garbage. From his profile "I'm christian and proud of it". His only experience prior to being elected was as a car salesman. >

For Republicans you don't need experience, just "I'm a proud Christian, and you win support. >

Let’s just ban school.  Off to the mines with the children. >

Effectively, that's what promoting home-schooling, funding Christian private schools and defunding public schools has done. >

Counter Bill: Anyone who is against science, the teaching of science, the educating of people to think for themselves, and/or just any form of kindling logical thought, have to strip naked and go live in the wild as they are against the very foundations our modern society was built upon over the course of many generations of those striving to improve upon it with their minds and as such these people should not be able to enjoy the privileges and benefits of said civilization. >

See also: libertarians. 
And they get mauled by bears and drown in their own trash. >

In his defense, Senator Emrich's existence is a pretty good counter-argument to the theory that man has evolved. >

While your point still stands, in reality evolution refers only to change, not improvement. >

The stupid is especially strong with Kevin Hudson. "Protect the children" shouldn't be license to make them equally and more stupid. >

As a recovering catholic and a gay man every time I hear the phrase " protect the children " I cold shiver runs down my spine and my body goes in to protective aggressive mode. >

The Christian Taliban is at it again. >

Also, gravity is somewhat less well-understood than some of the theories that they like to complain about the most. >

Wow. That would be incredibly stupid, I'm sure that headline is hyperbole. 
*checks article
Nope. This moron really doesn't understand what a scientific theory is. >

Or the difference between Theory and Hypotheses. >

Incoming "evolution is only a theory" and not a scientific fact.
I thought this was what the Scopes trial resolved... >

I think I’m gonna have to leave this sub . It doesn’t matter that I agree with everyone here- it just ruins my fucking day to see shit like this all the time… the willful ignorance motivated by politics and religion really makes me wish there was some other continent in the pacific we could just send all those crazies to so they could all be shitty and crazy to each other all day and leave the rest of the world alone. >

The future of the GOP is dependent on the dumbing down of the next generation of voters. >

This is absolutely insane. America is going to Hell in a hand basket.
Evangelical fundamentalists and trumpublican wackos want us all to regress back into the Dark Ages. >

When will they get around to teaching politicians what a scientific theory is? >

Everyone has lost their god damn minds >

Oh man, I bet their reasoning is that they don't understand what "theory" means in relation to science. >

Probably not, but even if they did I'd guess they're capitalizing on the common definition of the word "theory" to give this stupid idea its legitimacy. It doesn't matter at all what's actually true if you have a massive army of people who believe everything you tell them. >

Never change Flori.....Im sorry a new player has entered the chat >

I used to laugh at Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy” because it was a work of fiction.  Now I’m on the verge of tears because it’s a documentary. >

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but while the people in Idiocracy were bellegerent and ignorant, they weren't overly hateful and listened when someone proved they had a good useful idea.
Idiocracy was much better off than we are. >

Not to mention Comancho was a near-perfect president. He cared about the country, trusted people more knowledgeable than himself, even when it went against everything he thought he knew, and, when it came to the election, he endorsed someone else he knew was the better candidate and cleared the way for them to win. >

That’s fine, they just don’t get to use anything humans invented using any sort of science.
Soo good luck doing anything >


If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false assumptions

And apparently, if we operate on the assumption that senators know what the word "theory" means, it leads us to electing morons who write up bills based on elementary-school level misunderstandings of very basic words. >

jesus fuckin H. CHRIST ON A CRUTCH!!!!
Are we back to fighting this anti-science Creationist horseshit AGAIN?
I realize it never really went away but ffs, this crap never ends with these religious anti-intellectual goobers entirely misunderstanding the word "theory" in the context of science. Hell, even the word "fact" overloaded their circuits and they decided they would follow 'alternative' facts.
If you're unsure about what I'm so pissed and angry about this, I would strongly recommend reading the 2007 non-fiction book about the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial of 2005. It details every ridiculous argument these dunderheads tried to spin in court about how science was bad and their beliefs and dreams were better. Fucking nightmare, all of them. >

It's the end. Any science-based company should leave these red states because they (the states) are lost causes and should be punished financially in addition to being shunned. "If you teach religion-based theories instead of science you are not producing a qualified workforce. Later." >

Basic stuff works because of theory. Your phone screen rotates because we have a pretty good idea how gravity works. It’ll be interesting if another form of Amish communities come out of states being left behind by science >

The pride of the stupids. >

Guess we'd better throw out modern medicine completely, considering that's all based on several scientific theories. Let's go back to trepanning and humorism, while we're at it. >

Someone who doesn't know what a scientific theory is trying to ban them from schools. Jesus fucking Christ we're back to Creationists aren't we. >

I'm so glad all the stupidest fucking people have voted stupid fucking people into power to use the force of the state to make everyone around them just as fucking stupid as they are.^(/s) >

America, getting dumber by the election year. >

oh dear... >

Taliban GOP strikes again. >

Howdy Arabia!
(Not mine, but fits) >

Y'all Qaeda >

Idiots that don't know the difference between a hypothesis and a theory somehow attract enough votes to hold office. >

So scientific theories won’t be taught for engineering degrees? Specifically petroleum engineering? The degree that is used for part of their revenue? >

As a biology and earth space systems teacher, my head is going to explode. We are never going to be able to compete on a global scale! This is absolutely sickening! In the science world, a theory is a fact!!!! They see the word theory and use the wrong definition!! >

I fully support this so long as no one in the state is allowed to make a living from (or put into practice while working) any technique or set of steps that directly resulted from the scientific method.
No medicine.
No engineering.
No tools or products of engineering may be used.
No agricultural techniques discovered by biologists.
No industrial production.
No photography or video.
No audio recording or playback.
Fuck these idiots. Banish them to the 13th Century and see how long they last. >

Things you cant teach if you ban the education of "scientific theories"
Gravity
Cells
Germs theory
Evolution by natural selection
Literally everything else.
​
Most "theories" in a scientific context are our best evidenced explanations for observable fact. Why does stuff fall? Gravitational theory
Hey why do peacocks have such ludicrous tails? evolution by sexual selection/handicap principle
Why do human beings get ill? Germ theory.
​
Why do these chemicals behave the way they do? ultimately goes back to atomic theory
​
The bill literally just bans science as a subject! The only saving grace is that there cant possibly be a way this passes because it is completely unworkable. >


The legislation’s sponsor says by banning scientific theories, the policy aims to prevent kids from being taught things that aren’t true. 

I just can't anymore. This right here is rejection of actual Science. Plus they don't seem to have a clue what a scientific theory even is. >

American, for fucks sake can you get a GRIP already?! Still using bullshit like Fahrenheit is funny, but evolution isn’t funny >

please tell me this is rage bait, please tell me this is rage bait, ple- >

Dammit Bill >

Bill sounds like an asshole >

The balloon did this >

America, the fuck? >

Wouldn't this mean those schools could lose their accreditation and make attending college nearly impossible? >

It’s no wonder republican led states are bottom in education. >

Nice job Christians >

I guess it's easier to try to become the shittiest state for education than the best.
This Emrich guy must think magic snow elves turn water into ice cubes in his freezer. >

I see the Sharia Law is coming along nicely.....but seriously WTF America? >

We have become ‘The Marching Morons’ (or the other more known story: Idiocracy, the movie) >

I'm genuinely so worried for this country
Red states are attempting to erode away at public education, to bar kids from learning even the most fundamental matters.
I don't even care if the bill doesn't pass, *you don't fucking try this shit*
This isn't dumb, this is *evil* >

The whole world looks at the US like one might look at a child with severe mental challenges. It’s not funny, you’d like to help but there’s nothing you can do; you just feel sympathy and sorrow. >

Dumb ass freshman senator doesn’t know the difference between theory and hypothesis and yet he’s trying to make laws about it. Fucking idiot. >

Republicans are just theocrats in suits. >

Christofascists. >

The US should just let the ignorant eater states devolve into idiocy then kick them out of the union. In another generation they will be empty territories ready to be recolonized. >

There is no such thing as "scientific fact," you imbecile. That's literally the whole point of science is nothing is ever 100% certain, and everything should be questioned. >

If I could upvote this more I would. Bonus for using the word imbecile, very underutilized. >

we need to break the country up.
My federal tax dollars should not be used to bail out people that can't be bothered to understand one single goddamn thing.
if the people in Montana want to live in mud huts and have tribes of sister wives why do I need to waste my tax money to try and stop them. >

Tell me you don't understand science without saying you don't understand science. >

Maybe they should ban religion first.  Forcing people to act and think base on folklore and fairytales is down right dangerous ... they are indoctrinating our kids >

I'm not sure that is a good idea. >

You're looking at it all wrong. The point is to make poor kids dumber, thus more easily manipulated. This is a good idea, from an evil point of view. >

Bill who? Sounds like a jerk. Why are you such a jerk, Bill? >

A theory is fact. An hypothesis must be tested and proven to be true. Good grief. These people should not be governing. >

Gravity is Jesus' hands on you're shoulders holding you down to earth until he lets go when its you're time to float up to heaven because he loves you so much more than anything, but if your bad, think the wrong things, or don't love him and his dad as much as he/they want you to and in the way they want you to or if you use pronouns, then he'll pushes you down into the hell fire where you'll burn for eternity. This will all be on the science test at the end of the year. >

WHERE IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT?? >

This is about stopping the teaching of evolution as part of a plan to weaken science education in order to advance bible based indoctrination. Plain and simple. Don't let the other details distract you. >

MASA
Make America Stupid Again >

Dangerously stupid. >

Why would Bill do this? >

This Bill guy sucks >

Who is this Bill and why does he have so much power? >

This is too much. We have to stop Bill. >

It's time to relieve the christofascists of power >

The profound stupidity of politicians astounds me sometimes. >


"If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false assumptions," Emrich said.

Thats not what gets taught, though...
The "fact" you get taught is that the theory exists, but one of the core principles I was taught ASAP in science was that "you can never prove a theory true, only find substantial evidence, but you can easily prove a theory wrong"
The entire premise of this person's statement is built on a massive falsehood that we teach theories as fact.
But a pretty huge chunk of the science curriculum is teaching about historical theories that used to be considered correct but have since been proven false.
Which inherently teaches students that theories are merely our best guess (though a very very very educated guess) at how the universe approximately works.
Furthermore my teachers were always sure to remind as that what we are being taught in grade school is merely a simplification and generalization of how things work and that we will learn there's much more nuance to it at higher levels if we choose to pursue them, and to take what we are learning with a grain of salt that it's not quite so simple. >

So it’s confirmed, we are living in the dumbest timeline. >

A theory is an over-arching explanation for observed facts. It is not on a scale from false to true. A theory is not a guess. A theory’s strength depends on the evidence for it and the evidence for evolutionary theory, germ theory, atomic theory, gravitational theory is incredibly strong. I guess chemistry, physics, and biology are out. So is geology. So many -ologies. >

Just when you think they’ve hit rock bottom, they break out the dynamite and start blasting. >

they know GRAVITY is a scientific "THEORY" right? >

This will only add to student debt because all these students will need to take remedial classes in addition to their coursework. 🤦🏼‍♀️ >

Oh my God they are so stupid. Like the politicians and everyone who voted them in. Just so very stupid. >

God the right wing going after the public education system is fucking terrifying. >

Pretty sure at this stage you lost when you beat the British >

Republicans keep lowering education and raising the cost of living. I think their endgame is a return to serfdom. >

I picked a bad decade to quit drinking >

These people clearly don't understand how the word "theory" is used in a scientific context. >

Im starting to be under the impression that you guys are not being tested on this stuff in school. How can you be considered high school educated if you don't know the difference between.
-conjecture
-inference
-hypothesis
-theory
This is so super basic. >

They want a theocracy, and people are easiest to control when they’re stupid. >

and people think idiocracy is a comedy >

Elementary school level misunderstanding of commonly used terms.    What does it say about your district and state when you have an elected official posing legislation dramatically changing all education in your state based on a grade school misunderstanding of basic vocabulary?  This is literally what happens when you put total idiots in charge. >

Time to watch Idiocracy once again >

The state senator sponsoring this bill is Dan Emrich. In his first public Facebook post as a state legislature this man misspelled "America". He wants to make education decisions. >

It’s like a race to outdumb each other. No wonder Putin loves republicans. Destroying America from within. >

So what are they going to teach them? That "Adam and Eve" and "Noah's Ark" are FACTS? >

Sounds like Daniel, the sponsor of this bill. Needs more edumacation on the difference between a hypothesis and a theory. >

Tell me you don't know what "theory" means without saying you don't know what "theory" means. >

There’s a reason far cry 4 takes place in Montana >

for all the wealth they are swimming in, at some point the major universities need to insist that they won’t accept students from states that do not educate them to a particular standard, or at least require those students to have remedial education before being accepted. >

Alright guys, pack it in. Its over, we're fucked. Let too many mouth breathers have children and let them get into positions of power. Game over >


The bill is sponsored by freshman Republican Senator Daniel Emrich from Great Falls. In his testimony, Emrich said the bill would make sure students are taught what a scientific fact is.

Anyone who makes a statement like this has no understanding of science and should stay off the field. >

To be fair, this is from one Republican nullball rep called Daniel Emrich.  He's an anti-vaxxer, idiot, who represents bunch of ranchers in the middle of nowhere.
I pity the guy a bit - he got absolutely reamed in the house when presenting it.  Funny as hell. >

we going back to the middle ages bois! >

I present two erect middle fingers to everyone who clutched their pearls over the past 25 years every time anyone pointed out that fundamentalist christians were intent on destroying the country.
So concerned about offending christians that they gave them free reign to destroy our country.
Enjoy your theocracy. >

You know you're dealing with a subdeveloped turd when they mention "scientific facts". In science there are scientific laws and theories. Nobody deals in facts because the scientific method does not deal in such ultimatums. Even laws have changed over time, because new theories that refute older ones come to life.
What the fuck is going on in the USA. >

WTF Bill, fuck that guy. >

This guy clearly doesn’t understand the difference between a theory and a hypothesis, which he should have learned in middle school. If Republicans had an ounce of shame then they’d force him to resign because this is goddamn disgraceful. >

Oh to be a science teacher in Montana.  “Ok students, just whatever as long as you don’t accidentally science and you’ll all get passing grade I pull from my magic hat for today.” >

It's always some neckbeard like this promoting these kinds of bills.  Always. >

The bill SB 235 defines “scientific fact” as an “indisputable and repeatable observation of a natural phenomenon.”  So this is just a back door attempt to not teach evolution, likely by a religious fanatic, since you can’t fully repeat all of evolution. >

But evolution is a fact. COVID is a prime example of that. >

Letting lawyers near science is a bad idea >

Letting REPUBLICANS near science is a bad idea. FTFY >

Letting republicans near anything is a bad idea. And yet 40 something percent keep voting for them >

Ever since Montana elected Greg Gianforte to be governor they've really started sliding into shithole territory. >

Good lord, we really are heading to the idiocracy days. 
​
what next? >

Warhammer 40k? >

More Republican small government… >

Keep them stupid >

Just remember Montana voters, you're voting to choose to be that fuckin stupid, now you won't have any excuses. >

I wonder what the larger goal is behind politicians ensuring our future generation cannot compare to other nations in terms of technology and progress. >

Staying in power.  
That's it.  Nothing else.  
Keep them dumb, eliminate their ability to leave, and they'll keep you in power for generations. >

America. You are falling behind the rest of the world in science, technology, human rights, because of a idiot party called republicans. DEFEAT THEM >

States that aren’t led by moronic MAGAs should pass laws that they won’t hire anyone who attended school in Montana. >

Pizza will now pull double duty as both a vegetable and the scientific method itself in public schools. >

Next thing you know they'll be teaching kids that a solar eclipse isn't caused by a dragon eating the sun and that sacrificing virgins won't do anything to stop it. >

I thought Bill was a person for a second and this was just an opinion piece. Like why is what Bill thinks so important >

Omg, what are we trying to do?  Recreate the middle ages?! >

I mean....I had fun at medieval times >

This is probably be too hard for them to read. Guess that's why they want ban it.
scientific theory >

Let’s get stupid! >

Why am I not surprised by this? >

It's definately time to crack down on this THEORY of gravity.  In fact, it's past time.
Intelligent falling all the way! >

Ah yes, the ol' "I don't understand how science works so I'm afraid of it and therefor it must be banned" argument. If there were only a way for people to understand things they lack knowledge about. Maybe by speaking with people that do have said knowledge and, you know, ^(maybe) asking questions. >

As someone who frequently, for some reason I can’t understand, sees r/Montana posts appear as “suggested posts” I can totally see this happening. Just nothing but hatred and racism and anti-outsiders in Montana, at least from the majority of the population represented on Reddit. >

I don't think these people understand what the word theory means. >

American Taliban Association approves it. Next law: ban girls from schools. >

I guess he doesn’t want girls to get any form of education. His party is no better than the taliban >

And why should I care about what a dude named Bill wants? >

Woohoo! Texas gets to move up one notch to 42 on educational attainment! 
(Bizarrely, though: we rank 15th in quality of education available. So... lots of people really, really don't give a shit about school here.) >

Theocracy. >

Gravity is a hoax!!! Atoms don’t exist!!! Living organisms aren’t derived of cells!!! >

I don't think I'd send my kids to public school if I was a parent. They all seem to have their biases now. There's enough education material online that it's not needed. >

Then it's not a school, its a church. >

So essentially this rep wants to ban the teaching of science in Montana schools… >

should I point out that the Theory of Gravity is.. you know... a theory? >

Jfc. Another ignorant jackass that doesn't understand what "theory" means in scientific discourse. Gravity isn't "just a theory" you fucking baboon. Why the hell do we let uneducated dipshits in our government again? Some basic standards really should be necessary, but then I guess Republicans wouldn't have many candidates to run. >

I don't know...lots of things are just theories.  Gravity...capitalism...religion...democracy...Montana. >

Idiocracy >

Going all in for stupid is the GQP way >

This is not going to help the Duttons keep their ranch. >

So… no Doctors, Engineers, Nurses, Mechanics, etc etc training in Montana anymore? >


The legislation’s sponsor says by banning scientific theories, the policy aims to prevent kids from being taught things that aren’t true.

I think I have to go sit down for a while. I don't know how to process such an absurd sentence. I don't understand how there are adults, who were voted into office, in this world, in this time period, who...
We have passed peak IQ. We're done. >

I feel like I read that IQ did peak in the 90s because of CO2 in the atmosphere. I can't find it now though so don't treat that like a fact or anything. Good thing I'm not in Montana. >

Well no, it's a hypothesis. It would be difficult proving a causal link with so many confounding variables. >

Now, I ain't no country chicken, and I'm not a city lawyer.  I do however, know for a fact, that when two men sit down together to share a casual link at breakfast, it by no means has to be Jimmy Dean, and I can call those men homophrodites.  It is well within my rights under the first commandment to throw stones at those who have sinned.  I rest my face. >

This feels so Futurama >

Exactly ~~what~~ where I was ~~ripping off~~ drawing inspiration from! >

Maybe they should require a GED to hold public office in Montana? >

Lauren Bobert has entered the chat. >

Only took her what, three tries?
Still better than McCarthy's speaker vote! >

The fact she won at all. And the won reelection is why I've lost all faith in humanity. >

The fact that she barely won in my Uber conservative district, restored my faith in humanity. >

This is what a lot of people don't get.  They redistricted to what should have been a more favorable demographic and she baaaaaarely won.  Lots of people regardless of political affiliation hate her.  I was not amused when I realized that my rep was now her after the redistricting.  Fuck that bitch, hopefully we can muster enough people next time around. >

How is it still legal to "redistrict" an area to affect election outcomes? I ask out of genuine curiosity, as a non-American. I'm pretty sure that can't be done where I am from. >

State legislatures draw the districts on maps. They are told how many districts they have to draw bu the federal Congress. Then partisan legislators try to draw as many 51% districts that they can for their side while packing as many of their opponents into a single district that they can. So whoever wins the most state legislature seats wields a lot of power when we do a census and redistrict every 10 years. >

That sounds sketchy as hell. >

That's because it is. >


The bill is sponsored by freshman Republican Senator Daniel Emrich from Great Falls. In his testimony, Emrich said the bill would make sure students are taught what a scientific fact is.  
"If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false assumptions," Emrich said.

Emrich stringing words together will no basic understanding of the scientific method. >

Some Dem should agree with him and insist on an addition that requires that all schools should have to teach that no religion has any basis in provable fact. After all, we don't want our children being taught information that can't be proven, now do we? >

But the Bible says ... >

Well, if it's in the Bible, then it must be true!  How do we know this?  Well, the Bible says so!  Q.E.D. >

And thus God vanished in a puff of logic. (There’s some Douglas Adams quote that goes after the QED). >

Then man went on to prove that black is white and got himself killed at the next zebra crossing. >

Not living in the UK, it took me YEARS to realize "zebra crossing" is a name for the marked off pedestrian crossing lanes.
I thought he was trampled by hooves. >

I missed the joke that Ford had misidentified the dominant species on earth and that's why he called himself Ford Prefect.  A Prefect is a car model only in the UK. >

"If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, 
it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false 
assumptions," Emrich said
Clearly he has no idea what the definition of scientific theory is, what it does, how it is arrived at and how science advances by the repeated examination of theories works. He could probably do with a good BA degree, if he could get into college that is. >

We learned the scientific method in middle school on the East coast. I had no idea what kind of weaponized ignorance we were up against until this day. >

If we consider the theory of gravity in our calculations, we might be making a false assumption. Better to not get involved in anything requiring the understanding of falling objects. >

I’ll let go of an anvil over him. After all, it’s just a theory the anvil will fall downwards, for all we know it could fall upwards. >

This is actually true. There is no guarantee that gravity isn't a force that changes polarity every 2 trillion years or something. >

Right, but scientific theories are there to help us predict what will happen. And the odds of gravity changing in such a way would be incomprehensible small and not even worth considering. >

Maybe, if gravity was a particle's position at a given time.  It's not.  It's a fundamental force.  Also that's not strictly the purpose of a theory.  A theory is just the best explanation of a phenomenon based on all possible information.  Yes, some parts of a theory will be refined over time but it's not suddenly going to be false because chance. >

I recommend him climbing a tall ladder and testing out the "theory of gravity" and tell us what he thinks afterwards. >

Parachute use has not been shown to decrease deaths. So he should not use a parachute when he skydives. >

This is the funniest paper ive ever read >

There is a radiology paper that I read a long time ago that quantified different sayings for frequency. Something like “once in a blue moon” means 1.4% of the time. I wish that I had saved it. >

Some cursory research did not locate this article. damn it sounds hilarious >

It’s one of my greatest professional regrets that I did not copy the paper that I held in my hands. >

Man, this Bill guy sounds like an asshole. >

Honestly, who is this Bill guy? I hear about him pretty often and he tends to have a lot of bad ideas. Not sure why the media pays him so much attention. >

By that logic then, I would assume that they are ok with banning religion in all forms in schools as that is just a bunch of shit you can’t prove 100%. >

I’ve heard people claim that the Bible is the basis for science, or is some great scientific resource. So if they want to ban scientific theories and they maintain the Bible is a valid scientific theory for our origin… >

Oh believe me, these groups are Olympians when it comes to mental gymnastics.
It will simultaneously be regarded as scientific fact and be allowed in schools because it's somehow also beneficial to the students.
I legitimately cannot think how they'd try to defend it but I know they'll find a way. >

simple: "it's the absolute word of god and this country was built as a christian nation."
you don't even have to equate it with the scientific theory thing, you side step it entirely with that 'gem' of reasoning. all you have to do is state something undeniably popular with people who don't think much, then it becomes the 'retort' to the argument you side-stepped. >

Great Falls? Jackass is from My city?! Already loathed Montana Republican class traitors and carpetbaggers but now it's personal! >

Take his seat!!!!! 😈 >

If I still lived there, I'd be bloody tempted to try! Great Falls should be better. Someone should get the trout to vote. >

I’m really no longer surprised to see republicans striving to bring the US into the dark ages. >

It is funny, because their European dark ages were happening during the Islamic Golden Era. Probably mad they had to learn Arabic numbers. >

There was no european dark age. The so called dark ages were called that by historians during the rennaissance who wanted to set themselves as better than the times before them. >

Even the Medieval age in Europe had churches and monasteries dedicated to archival and often scientific research. The fact that some people in power in modern America have stooped lower than that is both ironic and sad. >

I'm low key laughing at the concept of them taking this and running with it in the scientific sense. Given that a "theory" is actually the body of evidence that supports factual findings and explains a mechanism by which those phenomena function, the bill wouldn't ban the phenomena, but ban teachers from explaining how it works. 
Biology:
"Yes students. This will be on the test; Evolution of species is a phenomena that has been observed and is considered to be the reason that humanity and life is in its current form."
"But wait professor, we know that evolution is factual and observable reality, but how does it work?"
"Well, it works via a mechanism called Natural Selection theory of evolution, but explaining how things work is illegal, so I cannot teach you how natural selection works. Now, onto the next subject. I can tell you the phenomena, that people are able to become ill, become sick, and die. But because theory is, again, the body of evidence that explains an observed phenomena, I'm not allowed to teach germ theory, which gets into the concepts of pathogens and microbiological organisms."
"Does that mean we don't have to wash our hands anymore?"
"No. You still have to wash your hands. The Republicans just made it a felony to explain why you have to wash your hands."
Geology:
"Alright class. For your test next week we need you to remember the observable phenomena, that continents move and are not in the same place that they were millions of years ago. They continue to move as well. You will also need to know that mountains can form, and so can crevasses, usually in the ocean."
"But professor, why do those things happen? Surely the mountains don't just spring out of nowhere? Is it a mystery?
"Oh not at all. It's a well known and studied body of evidence that explains it, called the Plate Tectonic theory. But Republicans made it illegal to teach people how things work. So you have to know that it happens, but I cannot teach you how it works anymore."
Physics:
"Alright, it's very important for everyone to know this. There are many observable phenomena in the world of physics. Most well known is the fact that things fall towards the earth when you drop them."
"Oh! Professor, I know what that is! It's called gravity!"
"Well, it's possible that it's gravity. However, Gravitational theory, the body of evidence that explains how it works, is illegal for me to teach you. Science has long established how it works, measured it and have worked to apply it to nearly every facet of your life. Nothing you can experience is divorced from the facts that it has established. However, because of Republican education, your education will begin and end at "things fall, don't ask why". >

Physicist here: there’s something you’re messing up in this analogy a bit. A physical or mathematical theory isn’t the same thing as a philisophical theory, which is what all of the other examples are. A physical theory is a mathematical framework which produces some predictions based on a set of assumptions. Physical theories can be proposed to describe some phenomenon, but it’s not necessary to earn the name “theory”. 
Often, a mathematical framework is developed to describe some phenomenon and it’s discovered that the candidate phenomenon is not observable for some reason. The status of the theory here described is not jeaprodized by that fact, technically. 
Tldr: the definition you learn in school/see on wikipedia might be fine for most popular references e.g. theory of evolution, but theory means different things in different contexts. It’s a matter of some controversy that “theory”, “law”, and “hypothesis” are so heavily influenced in primary/secondary education. >

Okay, gotcha, I appreciate the correction. So if we wanted to correct the "Physics Class" analogy to accurately show the point I'm trying to make, what would that dialogue look like instead? >


The bill is sponsored by freshman Republican Senator Daniel Emrich from Great Falls. In his testimony, Emrich said the bill would make sure students are taught what a scientific fact is.

Wonder what church he goes to. >

Church of Christian Facts >

Christian Fascists >

Text of the bill here.
In short, he wants to ban any discussion of science from science class by censoring "scientific theories" (eg. evolution, relativity, gravity, motion, germs, etc), forcing MT teachers only to discuss "scientific facts", which literally are not a thing. 🤔 >

He didn’t finish high school, so that probably explains why he doesn’t know what a science class is. >

From his FB profile:
"Hi i am Daniel Were to start. I love to spend time with friends and family, I'm christian and proud of it,I love the out doors i like soccer basketball volleyball hunt fish camp love to have fun. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find i lived the length of it but not the width the depth or the breath of my life."
Next he's gonna want to ban grammar, spelling and punctuation from English class I bet. >

My "Republicans are Stupid Theory" is being proven by this assclown.  It shall now be taught as "Republicans are Stupid, FACT. " >

This is a veiled attempt to try to get creationism taught in schools. One of the attacks creationists make against evolution is that it's a theory and not a fact. They completely misunderstand the concept of scientific theory, or willfully misrepresent what it is to try to sway the under educated. >

Yep, this is just « Intelligent Design » in another package. >

The guy's facebook page is a dumpster fire of anti-vax, anti-"woke", anti-CRT, election denial garbage. From his profile "I'm christian and proud of it". His only experience prior to being elected was as a car salesman. >

For Republicans you don't need experience, just "I'm a proud Christian, and you win support. >

Let’s just ban school.  Off to the mines with the children. >

Effectively, that's what promoting home-schooling, funding Christian private schools and defunding public schools has done. >

Counter Bill: Anyone who is against science, the teaching of science, the educating of people to think for themselves, and/or just any form of kindling logical thought, have to strip naked and go live in the wild as they are against the very foundations our modern society was built upon over the course of many generations of those striving to improve upon it with their minds and as such these people should not be able to enjoy the privileges and benefits of said civilization. >

See also: libertarians. 
And they get mauled by bears and drown in their own trash. >

In his defense, Senator Emrich's existence is a pretty good counter-argument to the theory that man has evolved. >

While your point still stands, in reality evolution refers only to change, not improvement. >

The stupid is especially strong with Kevin Hudson. "Protect the children" shouldn't be license to make them equally and more stupid. >

As a recovering catholic and a gay man every time I hear the phrase " protect the children " I cold shiver runs down my spine and my body goes in to protective aggressive mode. >

The Christian Taliban is at it again. >

Also, gravity is somewhat less well-understood than some of the theories that they like to complain about the most. >

Wow. That would be incredibly stupid, I'm sure that headline is hyperbole. 
*checks article
Nope. This moron really doesn't understand what a scientific theory is. >

Or the difference between Theory and Hypotheses. >

Incoming "evolution is only a theory" and not a scientific fact.
I thought this was what the Scopes trial resolved... >

I think I’m gonna have to leave this sub . It doesn’t matter that I agree with everyone here- it just ruins my fucking day to see shit like this all the time… the willful ignorance motivated by politics and religion really makes me wish there was some other continent in the pacific we could just send all those crazies to so they could all be shitty and crazy to each other all day and leave the rest of the world alone. >

The future of the GOP is dependent on the dumbing down of the next generation of voters. >

This is absolutely insane. America is going to Hell in a hand basket.
Evangelical fundamentalists and trumpublican wackos want us all to regress back into the Dark Ages. >

When will they get around to teaching politicians what a scientific theory is? >

Everyone has lost their god damn minds >

Oh man, I bet their reasoning is that they don't understand what "theory" means in relation to science. >

Probably not, but even if they did I'd guess they're capitalizing on the common definition of the word "theory" to give this stupid idea its legitimacy. It doesn't matter at all what's actually true if you have a massive army of people who believe everything you tell them. >

Never change Flori.....Im sorry a new player has entered the chat >

I used to laugh at Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy” because it was a work of fiction.  Now I’m on the verge of tears because it’s a documentary. >

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but while the people in Idiocracy were bellegerent and ignorant, they weren't overly hateful and listened when someone proved they had a good useful idea.
Idiocracy was much better off than we are. >

Not to mention Comancho was a near-perfect president. He cared about the country, trusted people more knowledgeable than himself, even when it went against everything he thought he knew, and, when it came to the election, he endorsed someone else he knew was the better candidate and cleared the way for them to win. >

That’s fine, they just don’t get to use anything humans invented using any sort of science.
Soo good luck doing anything >


If we operate on the assumption that a theory is fact, unfortunately, it leads us to asking questions that may be potentially based on false assumptions

And apparently, if we operate on the assumption that senators know what the word "theory" means, it leads us to electing morons who write up bills based on elementary-school level misunderstandings of very basic words. >

jesus fuckin H. CHRIST ON A CRUTCH!!!!
Are we back to fighting this anti-science Creationist horseshit AGAIN?
I realize it never really went away but ffs, this crap never ends with these religious anti-intellectual goobers entirely misunderstanding the word "theory" in the context of science. Hell, even the word "fact" overloaded their circuits and they decided they would follow 'alternative' facts.
If you're unsure about what I'm so pissed and angry about this, I would strongly recommend reading the 2007 non-fiction book about the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial of 2005. It details every ridiculous argument these dunderheads tried to spin in court about how science was bad and their beliefs and dreams were better. Fucking nightmare, all of them. >

It's the end. Any science-based company should leave these red states because they (the states) are lost causes and should be punished financially in addition to being shunned. "If you teach religion-based theories instead of science you are not producing a qualified workforce. Later." >

Basic stuff works because of theory. Your phone screen rotates because we have a pretty good idea how gravity works. It’ll be interesting if another form of Amish communities come out of states being left behind by science >

The pride of the stupids. >

Guess we'd better throw out modern medicine completely, considering that's all based on several scientific theories. Let's go back to trepanning and humorism, while we're at it. >

Someone who doesn't know what a scientific theory is trying to ban them from schools. Jesus fucking Christ we're back to Creationists aren't we. >

I'm so glad all the stupidest fucking people have voted stupid fucking people into power to use the force of the state to make everyone around them just as fucking stupid as they are.^(/s) >

America, getting dumber by the election year. >

oh dear... >

Taliban GOP strikes again. >

Howdy Arabia!
(Not mine, but fits) >

Y'all Qaeda >

Idiots that don't know the difference between a hypothesis and a theory somehow attract enough votes to hold office. >

So scientific theories won’t be taught for engineering degrees? Specifically petroleum engineering? The degree that is used for part of their revenue? >

As a biology and earth space systems teacher, my head is going to explode. We are never going to be able to compete on a global scale! This is absolutely sickening! In the science world, a theory is a fact!!!! They see the word theory and use the wrong definition!! >

I fully support this so long as no one in the state is allowed to make a living from (or put into practice while working) any technique or set of steps that directly resulted from the scientific method.
No medicine.
No engineering.
No tools or products of engineering may be used.
No agricultural techniques discovered by biologists.
No industrial production.
No photography or video.
No audio recording or playback.
Fuck these idiots. Banish them to the 13th Century and see how long they last. >

Things you cant teach if you ban the education of "scientific theories"
Gravity
Cells
Germs theory
Evolution by natural selection
Literally everything else.
​
Most "theories" in a scientific context are our best evidenced explanations for observable fact. Why does stuff fall? Gravitational theory
Hey why do peacocks have such ludicrous tails? evolution by sexual selection/handicap principle
Why do human beings get ill? Germ theory.
​
Why do these chemicals behave the way they do? ultimately goes back to atomic theory
​
The bill literally just bans science as a subject! The only saving grace is that there cant possibly be a way this passes because it is completely unworkable. >


The legislation’s sponsor says by banning scientific theories, the policy aims to prevent kids from being taught things that aren’t true. 

I just can't anymore. This right here is rejection of actual Science. Plus they don't seem to have a clue what a scientific theory even is. >

American, for fucks sake can you get a GRIP already?! Still using bullshit like Fahrenheit is funny, but evolution isn’t funny >

please tell me this is rage bait, please tell me this is rage bait, ple- >

Dammit Bill >

Bill sounds like an asshole >

The balloon did this