Freethought & Rationalism Archive

KC · 06-14-2003, 04:14 PM

Richard Dawkins has said he has no problem teaching ceationism in the science classroom. It only takes 10 minutes to present and dismantle by showing teh evidence against it. That's a small price to pay if it means shutting these assholes up.

Of course, what they realy want is for creationism to be taught uncritically.

KC

RBH · 06-14-2003, 05:38 PM

From the news story:

Quote:

"In fact," he [the preacher making the ride] said, "this amendment is the basis of the changes that have been made in Ohio's public schools. They are now teaching the debate that surrounds biological evolution."

Well, no, they aren't. At least not in the sense the preacher meant. The basis for any changes in Ohio schools will be the state science standards on which students will be tested, and those standards specifically and explicitly exclude testing "intelligent design." And the first attempt to weaken the biological science curriculum of a local district in Ohio since the new standards went into place failed in May and again early this month. I know. I was at the school board meetings where the "teach the controversy" push was rejected in two different versions.

RBH

hezekiah jones · 06-14-2003, 07:22 PM

Oh yeah? Well you must have been at some other meeting, Bub:

"The new language is a clear victory for students, parents, and scientists in Ohio who have been calling for a 'teach the controversy' approach to evolution." - Stephen Meyer

The Lone Ranger · 06-14-2003, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hezekiah jones
Originally posted by Roma
Can somebody please, please explain to me what exactly these people mean when they say they want to "teach creationism"?

They can't use the word "creationism" anymore, because it's had its ass kicked out of every legal venue in the country.

These days the more forward-thinking creationists wish to "teach the controversy," which, as far as I can tell, is an entirely fabricated controversy manufactured from a deliberate misreading of the scientific literature.

I think most regular posters here will agree with this.

It's a particularly dishonest tactic. What they want to do is make it seem that evolution isn't accepted by large portions of the scientific community, and that evolutionary theory has no more legitimacy than Creation "Science."

They'll then try to convince the kiddos that there are only two alternatives -- evolution or creation -- and since even the scientific community rejects evolution, that leaves Creationism the winner by default.

scigirl · 06-15-2003, 01:39 PM

Quote:

"I want people to know about this academic freedom," Smith said.

Academic freedom - yeah right. Most people who want "academic freedom" in the science classroom are the same ones who want to censor literature class to get any mention of non-christian themes as far away from their kids as possible.

GRRR these people make me sick - they aren't at all interested in scientific advancement, they are interested in advancing their personal religion. Why can't they just admit it?

scigirl

RBH · 06-15-2003, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hezekiah jones
Oh yeah? Well you must have been at some other meeting, Bub:

"The new language is a clear victory for students, parents, and scientists in Ohio who have been calling for a 'teach the controversy' approach to evolution." - Stephen Meyer

Note the "local district" in my posting. I was there, sure enough, and watched both proposals fail, one 4-1 (May) and one 3-1 (June; one member absent). Whatever Meyer believes, the first attempt to translate that state board "new language" into a "teach the controversy" approach in a local district's science curriculum failed. Period. End of story.

RBH

hezekiah jones · 06-15-2003, 02:27 PM

Oh don't worry, I believe ya! I was just making merry at Meyer's expense.
But I didn't know about those more recent local meetings. I'm gonna look them up.

Cheers.

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06-14-2003, 04:14 PM	#11
KC Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Narcisco, RRR Posts: 527	Richard Dawkins has said he has no problem teaching ceationism in the science classroom. It only takes 10 minutes to present and dismantle by showing teh evidence against it. That's a small price to pay if it means shutting these assholes up. Of course, what they realy want is for creationism to be taught uncritically. KC

06-14-2003, 07:22 PM	#13
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Oh yeah? Well you must have been at some other meeting, Bub: "The new language is a clear victory for students, parents, and scientists in Ohio who have been calling for a 'teach the controversy' approach to evolution." - Stephen Meyer

06-15-2003, 02:27 PM	#17
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Oh don't worry, I believe ya! I was just making merry at Meyer's expense. But I didn't know about those more recent local meetings. I'm gonna look them up. Cheers.

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