Freethought & Rationalism Archive

RufusAtticus · 01-29-2004, 05:56 PM

Over 1000 signatures!

If you haven't signed it, just remember that everybody who is anybody is doing it. Be one of the cool kids.

Bad Kitty · 01-30-2004, 06:30 AM

CNN article

Snip:

Quote:

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- The state's school superintendent has proposed striking the word evolution from Georgia's science curriculum and replacing it with the phrase "biological changes over time."

What is the point of this? Now religion is going to dictate scientific terminology?

manderguy · 01-30-2004, 06:36 AM

Excellent letter, Rufus.

Here's an article from today's NYT.

At the end of the article:
"But Keith Delaplane, a professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, says the wholesale rejection of alternative theories of evolution is unscientific.

'My opinion is that the very nature of science is openness to alternative explanations, even if those explanations go against the current majority,' said Professor Delaplane, a proponent of intelligent-design theory, which questions the primacy of evolution's role in natural selection. 'They deserve at least a fair hearing in the classroom, and right now they're being laughed out of the arena.' "

Of course, what Delaplane doesn't mention is that since ID isn't scientific or in any way near functional as an alternative to evolution, it shouldn't be in science classes. And since when should the classroom be the first place a new theory sees the light of day?

manderguy · 01-30-2004, 06:42 AM

And this headline on FARK:

"SARS evolution traced. Georgia schools claim it was Intelligently Designed"

For this article.

RufusAtticus · 01-30-2004, 06:43 AM

More from the AJC.

Our State School Superintendent has declared that evolution is a "negative buzzword," and that intelligent design is a scientific alternative.

RufusAtticus · 01-30-2004, 07:04 AM

Merged duplicate thread.

Bad Kitty · 01-30-2004, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Merged duplicate thread.

Thanks Rufus, I'm sorry I didn't this other thread.

Michelle

openeyes · 01-30-2004, 08:24 AM

I really fear for our country when it's so difficult to forge straight-forward science standards for the schools because of these creationist/ID'er types.

It sound like the battle in Georgia is even worse than up here in Minnesota, though our anti-evolutionists are still trying to worm their way into the final legislation after science prevailed in the standards committee report. Sigh.

RufusAtticus · 01-30-2004, 08:29 AM

More letters to the editors in the AJC

Quote:

It's not science; call it philosophy

Evolution should be taken out of science classes because it is simply not science, which is the observation of reproducible phenomena. Evolution, which is neither observable nor reproducible, should be taught as philosophy.

Most teachers of evolution speak of it as an absolute certainty. Schools teach kids to be critical of everything from politicians to the Bible, but they are condemned as "unscientific" if they critique the evolution theory. Why is it the only subject above reproach in this country?

The very nature of science is that its laws must withstand public scrutiny.

My head is spinning.

RufusAtticus · 01-30-2004, 08:48 AM

With all the activity today, the petition has made it into the top 10 on petitiononline.

Here

01-29-2004, 05:56 PM	#51
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	Keep da pimp on... Over 1000 signatures! If you haven't signed it, just remember that everybody who is anybody is doing it. Be one of the cool kids.

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01-30-2004, 06:36 AM	#53
manderguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Happyville, MI Posts: 751	Excellent letter, Rufus. Here's an article from today's NYT. At the end of the article: "But Keith Delaplane, a professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, says the wholesale rejection of alternative theories of evolution is unscientific. 'My opinion is that the very nature of science is openness to alternative explanations, even if those explanations go against the current majority,' said Professor Delaplane, a proponent of intelligent-design theory, which questions the primacy of evolution's role in natural selection. 'They deserve at least a fair hearing in the classroom, and right now they're being laughed out of the arena.' " Of course, what Delaplane doesn't mention is that since ID isn't scientific or in any way near functional as an alternative to evolution, it shouldn't be in science classes. And since when should the classroom be the first place a new theory sees the light of day?

01-30-2004, 06:42 AM	#54
manderguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Happyville, MI Posts: 751	And this headline on FARK: "SARS evolution traced. Georgia schools claim it was Intelligently Designed" For this article.

01-30-2004, 06:43 AM	#55
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	More from the AJC. Our State School Superintendent has declared that evolution is a "negative buzzword," and that intelligent design is a scientific alternative.

01-30-2004, 07:04 AM	#56
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	Merged duplicate thread.

01-30-2004, 08:24 AM	#58
openeyes Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,215	I really fear for our country when it's so difficult to forge straight-forward science standards for the schools because of these creationist/ID'er types. It sound like the battle in Georgia is even worse than up here in Minnesota, though our anti-evolutionists are still trying to worm their way into the final legislation after science prevailed in the standards committee report. Sigh.

01-30-2004, 08:48 AM	#60
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	With all the activity today, the petition has made it into the top 10 on petitiononline. Here

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