Statement by Penelope A. Morrell, State Director
Concerned Women for America of Maine
To Members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee
Regarding L.D. #49, “An Act to Improve Science and Engineering Education for Maine Students”
January 25, 2017
Hello, and thank you, Chairs Senator Langley and Representative Kornfield, and distinguished members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, for the opportunity to appear before you today. I’m Penny Morrell, State Director of Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Maine.
We believe this is a government overreach into the lives of our kids in Maine. Maine students should have the freedom to explore and do research in science. After all, isn’t that the goal of science? No boundaries should be placed on where the research takes the student, especially if it is politically, religiously or instructionally oriented.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) programs young minds toward a particular philosophical viewpoint, rather than experimental observation, with the aim of promoting social activism. Theory is taught as fact:
- Earth System – Man is bad for the planet
- Man causes global warming – The Science surrounding this theory is highly debatable and any causation should be presented as such, i.e., theory
- Focus on only sustainable energy; wind/solar power to the exclusion of other forms of energy is not balanced science
- Political biases guide these principles; this is not science.
Science taught only with philosophically biased information reflects only the author’s viewpoint and desire to dominate the topic and has no value in science education or as proof in empirical science!
Maine Learning Results in Science should only be replaced with proven, tested, high-achieving results, not privately owned and unalterable results.
CWA of Maine urges this committee to vote “ought not to pass” on L.D. #49. Thank you.