Freethought & Rationalism Archive

RufusAtticus · 02-10-2004, 11:06 AM

Update

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met...4/10leged.html

Quote:

House Democrats waded into the evolution controversy on Monday by
introducing a bill to require that future changes to Georgia's public
school curriculum follow national educational standards.

Full bill text: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2...ext/hb1406.htm

RufusAtticus · 02-11-2004, 12:53 PM

More News

Cox is gathering the curriculum committee together tomorrow to come up with a new draft curriculum for biology (maybe all science). (story)

Cox has also removed her statment from the GADOE website entitled "The Truth About Georgia's Biology Curriculum" which was nothing of the sort as I demonstrated here. I'd like to think that my criticism helped it get removed.

AAAS has issued a statement about Georgia's Curriculum.

RufusAtticus · 02-11-2004, 10:38 PM

Today's News

Evolution: Board wants to use national standards

Quote:

During an hourlong discussion, the state board put together a public statement that calls for all areas of the state's new curriculum to be "world-class, beginning with the full inclusion of the recognized national standards in each curriculum area. . . ."

That includes national science standards, which call for teaching evolution and using the word in the classroom. The state Board of Education -- which has the final vote on the curriculum -- will read the statement at a meeting this morning.

Finally the truth comes out:

Quote:

The team that wrote the biology standards had recommended full adoption of the American Association for the Advancement of Science standards, which included a full discussion of evolution.

Cox said she removed the word "evolution" and several passages detailing how it should be taught, including sections on the age of Earth and natural selection.

Cox, who now admits that she has no buisness fiddling with biology education, was the one responsible for the edits.

Albion · 02-12-2004, 11:06 AM

From the article:

Quote:

Scientists and educators were generally pleased with the board's statement, but said they will continue to watch the process.

I'm glad to see that they're not taking anything for granted. The experience in Ohio shows how temporary these things can be.

RufusAtticus · 02-12-2004, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Albion
I'm glad to see that they're not taking anything for granted. The experience in Ohio shows how temporary these things can be.

Georgia currently has many advantages in this.

The scientists and educators threw a fit before the IDists tossed their hat in the ring.
Our board of education is appointed rather than elected.
We just lost an important Biotech facility to North Carolina, which serves as an example of why we need to not fuck with our science education.
12,000+ signatures

RufusAtticus · 02-13-2004, 01:13 AM

I've finalized the first batch of signatures. (Thanx to all my helpers.)

Statististics are available on my blog.

RufusAtticus · 02-13-2004, 10:17 PM

I just learned today that my letter was published by two other papers that I sent it to. They neglected to tell me about it.

Athens Banner-Heral: State DOE promotes Ignorance

Flagpole: Joke on Georgia

Check out these howlers that I found.

Evolution-only camp shows lack of creativity from a research meteorologist

Quote:

In 1859, Charles Darwin found a way to couch an ancient creation myth of secular religion in scientific terminology. Evolution seemed plausible 100 years ago. Since then, if science has proven anything about evolution it is that the theory lacks sufficient power to explain the origin and dispersal of life on Earth.

Forum: Banish religion of evolution from schools

Quote:

The long knives of persecution are brandished. However, this nomenclature issue has not touched the astonishing amount of misinformation about evolution itself and its veracity that has come into question by those within the Intelligent Design movement. Evolutionists have erected their own god, and his name is Charles Darwin. Worship services are held through the week in our institutions of education.

I've responded to the last one:

Quote:

Priscilla Carroll�s op-ed (ABH 2/13) is high on rhetoric and low on facts. I am amused when people who object to modern biology try to turn it into a religion of "evolutionism." Court losses in the 70's and 80's squelched their deceptive claims that biblical creation was a science. So now the tune has changed; "modern biology is a religion." Toss in some false facts, straw-men, misquotes, and fallacious appeals to authority, and the propaganda machine is in full swing. Too bad it is just as empty now as it was decades ago.

Evolution is the grand, unifying explanation of modern biology. It is well tested, well supported, and well documented. Decades of pseudo-scientific denial has not challenged that. The people of Georgia deserve a world-class educational and economic future. They cannot have this without evolution.

RufusAtticus · 05-17-2004, 06:17 PM

The DOE has released new versions of their draft standards. Things are considerably revamped. So much so that I'd say comparitive methods won't work this time around.

Timeline:

Quote:

5/13/04: Submit final draft of GPS to State Board for review

6/10/04: Submit GPS to State Board for final approval

Jun-Jul/04: Print/distribute GPS to School Systems

Science Standards

It is now in the hands of the state board, who are not elected officials.

May 13th board meeting

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02-11-2004, 12:53 PM	#152
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	More News Cox is gathering the curriculum committee together tomorrow to come up with a new draft curriculum for biology (maybe all science). (story) Cox has also removed her statment from the GADOE website entitled "The Truth About Georgia's Biology Curriculum" which was nothing of the sort as I demonstrated here. I'd like to think that my criticism helped it get removed. AAAS has issued a statement about Georgia's Curriculum.

02-13-2004, 01:13 AM	#156
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	I've finalized the first batch of signatures. (Thanx to all my helpers.) Statististics are available on my blog.

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