RufusAtticus

I have to go wash my mouth out now.


<a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/cobb/0902/27evolution.html" target="_blank">Cobb unanimously approves discussion of other theories</a>

By MARY MacDONALD
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

The Cobb County school board voted unanimously tonight to approve a policy that will allow teachers to discuss views in the classroom that dispute evolution.

Before a standing-room-only crowd, Board Chairman Curt Johnston read a six-paragraph statement after the vote. No other school board members made remarks.

"We seem to have been caught in the middle of a dispute between various parties who apparently want to use our curriculum to promote their own views," Johnston said. "We expect teachers to continue to teach the theory of evolution. We do not expect teachers to teach creationism. Our intention is to promote a broad-based science curriculum which will acknowledge that there are differences of opinion about the origin of life and to encourage students and others to be tolerant and respectful of those who may have different beliefs. Religion has no place in science instruction. But science instruction need not offend those who hold religious beliefs of whatever type."

School board members had been bombarded in the weeks leading up to the vote by e-mails, phone calls and letters from parents, educators and scientists -- many outside Cobb County.

The school board slightly revised the policy initially proposed by adding, "The purpose of this policy is to foster critical thinking among students to allow academic freedom consistent with legal requirements to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity of opinion and to ensure a posture of neutrality toward religion."

The policy allows teachers to discuss opposing views to evolution. Opponents say the policy will open the door for religious teaching in public schools, while supporters argue it would simply allow room for alternative beliefs to the origin of man.

Hundreds of people showed up for a final chance to weigh in on the debate, and the board's meeting room was packed with members of the media from around the country and their camera crews. The public input portion of the meeting, normally 30 minutes, was extended 15 minutes to allow more speakers a chance at the podium.

The room was regularly filled with applause as people on both sides voiced their opinions. Often the speakers framed this highly-charged debate as one pitting liberals and atheists against all those who believe in God.

Cobb County resident Larry Taylor said he supports the proposed policy.

"We are not advocating religion in the classroom," Taylor said. "But rather a comprehensive presentation both for and against Darwinism. We believe teachers should educate, not indoctrinate."

Dave Hudson, a parent of a Walton High School student, said the policy leaves the door open to teach religious theories and he opposed that.

"This policy is still not clear," Hudson said. "It appears to be intentionally unclear in an attempt to circumvent the laws of our country."

Before the public comments began, Johnston read a

prepared statement, saying the media has consistently misrepresented the board's efforts on this issue and that the board never intended to interject religion into science.

Doubting Didymus

Ouch.

That is extremely sad.

However, this has only said that alternate theories are 'now' allowed in the classroom. Wouldn't alternate theories have already been allowed to be taught, if only they existed? What was in place that said 'evolution is it, no other theory is allowed no matter what', that has been overturned?

It looks to me like science classes will still be teaching science, and only science, so what has changed?

RufusAtticus

According to a school board member who emailed me, their policy will allow teachers to teach that AIDS is caused by HIV, but then instruct their students to go home and ask their parents whether to belive it or not.

doubtingt

That's just it. All "alternative scientific" theories are already a part of every good science classroom. The fact that this resolution was put forth and passed means that its backers and the school board intend for it to open the door for theories that would not otherwise be addressed.
That means theories that are not endorsed by the scientific community and have not undergone the
normal process scientific critique.
This is combined with language that essentially prohibits an honest evaluation of these theories as inferior and unscientific, because that would be offensive to religious views. So, not only is ID allowed in the classroom, but pointing out how it is inferior according to scientific principles is not allowed.

RufusAtticus

I skipped this interesting email, which was sent out before the school board hearing.

======================
AFA is the fundamentalist Christian group that organized the ID
symposium at the Cobb Civic Center over the High Holidays weekend.
Either this is part of the Board's strategy not to have the policy
appear religiously motivated, or Answers in Genesis has had some
effect with their objections to the ID movement (or both).

&gt; &gt;
&gt; &gt;AFA Action Alert!
&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;Clarification regarding the Cobb County science debate
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Our September 25, 2002 Action Alert overstated the case for the
&gt;&gt;policy being considered by the Cobb County School Board. We
&gt;&gt;apologize for our miscommunication in this matter.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;First, the policy had changed significantly since we were last
&gt;&gt;updated on this issue. The new policy differs much from the
&gt;&gt;previous one, the policy upon which we commented. That new policy
&gt;&gt;reads as follows:
&gt;&gt;As stated in Policy 1A, Philosophy, it is the educational
&gt;&gt;philosophy of the Cobb County School District to provide a broad
&gt;&gt;base curriculum; therefore, the Cobb School District believes that
&gt;&gt;discussion of disputed views of academic subjects is a necessary
&gt;&gt;element of providing a balanced education, including the study of
&gt;&gt;the origin of the species. This subject remains an area of intense
&gt;&gt;interest, research, and discussion among scholars. As a result, the
&gt;&gt;study of this subject shall be handled in accordance with this
&gt;&gt;policy and with objectivity and good judgment on the part of
&gt;&gt;teachers, taking into account the age and maturity level of their
&gt;&gt;students.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Second, we were mistaken regarding the foreseeable consequences of
&gt;&gt;a policy change in Cobb County. While many would welcome a
&gt;&gt;discussion of the Genesis record and the facts that support a
&gt;&gt;"young earth" or literal interpretation of the creation account in
&gt;&gt;Genesis 1 and 2, we have been informed that neither the previous
&gt;&gt;policy, nor the current policy, exist to further that goal.
&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;While the new policy is laudable due to tendency to reject the
&gt;dominion and unquestioned Darwinian theory in public schools, we
&gt;must take no position on this new policy due to its failure to
&gt;guarantee the Biblical account of creation a place at the table.
&gt; &gt;
&gt;&gt;We recognize that reasonable minds can differ on this subject, and
&gt;&gt;so leave it there.
&gt; &gt;
&gt;&gt;

[ September 30, 2002: Message edited by: RufusAtticus ]</p>