Board's actions could put students at a disadvantage

Chron.com ^ | Oct. 22, 2008 | ALAN I. LESHNER

[Soliton]

It appears, however, that some members of the State Board of Education are working on a different agenda. Last week, they appointed three anti-evolution activists, including a leader of the "intelligent design" religious campaign, to a six-member panel that will review proposed new science curriculum standards.

The new standards will shape how science education is taught in Texas for the next decade, and it would be a terrible mistake to water down the teaching of evolution in any way.

Given the concerns about the state's future work force, the appointments are a troubling signal. At a time when most educators are working to prepare students for 21st century jobs, the board members' action threatens to confuse students, divide communities and tarnish Texas' reputation as an international science and technology center.

Intelligent design advocates on the state board have been maneuvering for months to undermine the teaching of evolution in science classes. They say that students need to hear about the strengths and weaknesses of evolution, which of course is true. But then they argue that the universe is so complex that it required an intelligent designer and that should be taught in science classes as an alternative to evolution. This is a religious belief, not a scientific argument. There is no science base to the notion of an intelligent designer.

In addition, there is no scientific controversy. Mainstream science and medical organizations in the United States and worldwide, representing tens of millions of scientists, accept evolution as the best explanation for how life developed on Earth.

[Soliton]

Why can't creationists get their kids to go to church?

[MEGoody]

The new standards will shape how science education is taught in Texas for the next decade, and it would be a terrible mistake to water down the teaching of evolution in any way.

I know the mere idea of putting a sticker on a science book that says evolution is a theory scared the pants off the evols.

[jessduntno]

“In addition, there is no scientific controversy. Mainstream science and medical organizations in the United States and worldwide, representing tens of millions of scientists, accept evolution as the best explanation for how life developed on Earth.”

Well, except for that pesky “missing link” thing...

[gracesdad]

“I know the mere idea of putting a sticker on a science book that says evolution is a theory scared the pants off the evols.”

You don’t honestly think that’s all that’s at stake here, do you? If so, would you like to look at some bridges I have for sale?

[Soliton]

I know the mere idea of putting a sticker on a science book that says evolution is a theory scared the pants off the evols.

Anyone getting above a C in a science class would figure out that evolution is a theory because it is called "the theory of evolution". The problem arrises from idiots who don't know what a theory is. Most creationist confuse theory with hypothesis.

[Brookhaven]

If evolution was taught as a theory and not fact, there probably wouldn’t be a problem.

Remember just a few years ago when there was an uproar over a school district in GA that put stickers inside the front cover of science books that said: “Evolution is a theory, not a proven fact.” The eventually had to remove them under pressure because it was so controversial.

Evolution is a theory, because it has not been proven. If it had been proven, it would be a scientific law (like the law of gravity.)

If schools would teach evolution as a scientific theory, there wouldn’t be this uproar. Instead it is taught as a proven fact, which is not the case.

[mlocher]

Well, except for that pesky “missing link” thing...

Missing link? I though Pilt Down Man solved that problem.

[MEGoody]

Anyone getting above a C in a science class would figure out that evolution is a theory because it is called "the theory of evolution".

Of course. Which begs the question why the evols got the vapors over the mere idea of putting a sticker on a science book that says evolution is a theory.

[MEGoody]

You don’t honestly think that’s all that’s at stake here, do you?

LOL Well, I know the evols think EVERYTHING is at stake here. But it's hard to take them seriously when they get their panties all twisted up over a sticker on a science book.

[Soliton]

Evolution is a theory, because it has not been proven. If it had been proven, it would be a scientific law (like the law of gravity.)

This is a Creationist talking point. In science a theory is an hypothesis that is supported by empirical evidence. Evolution is supported by immense amounts of empirical evidence. The law of gravity is such a theory that can be reduced to a mathematical formula. Whether or not something has been proven is a matter of opinion and a leap of faith. In an absolute sense, NOTHING can ever be proven; It is merely considered proven based on the quantity and quality of the evidence.

[Soliton]

Of course. Which begs the question why the evols got the vapors over the mere idea of putting a sticker on a science book that says evolution is a theory.

Keep reading my previous reply until you get it

[MEGoody]

Keep reading my previous reply until you get it

Oh, I've already gotten it. Evols panic whenever someone doesn't bow down to their 'god'.

[Citizen Blade]

Well, except for that pesky “missing link” thing...

What link do you consider to be missing?

[Coyoteman]

Well, except for that pesky “missing link” thing...

You are ill-informed. There is no "missing link." That is a newspaper term.

What we have in the study of evolution are transitionals. And we have a lot of them, contrary to the lies told by creationists.

This is an example of a transitional. Note its position in the chart which follows (hint--in the right center):

---

Fossil: KNM-ER 3733

Site: Koobi Fora (Upper KBS tuff, area 104), Lake Turkana, Kenya (4, 1)

Discovered By: B. Ngeneo, 1975 (1)

Estimated Age of Fossil: 1.75 mya * determined by Stratigraphic, faunal, paleomagnetic & radiometric data (1, 4)

Species Name: Homo ergaster (1, 7, 8), Homo erectus (3, 4, 7), Homo erectus ergaster (25)

Gender: Female (species presumed to be sexually dimorphic) (1, 8)

Cranial Capacity: 850 cc (1, 3, 4)

Information: Tools found in same layer (8, 9). Found with KNM-ER 406 A. boisei (effectively eliminating single species hypothesis) (1)

Interpretation: Adult (based on cranial sutures, molar eruption and dental wear) (1)

See original source for notes:
Source: http://www.mos.org/evolution/fossils/fossilview.php?fid=33

Source

[Coyoteman]

Evolution is a theory, because it has not been proven. If it had been proven, it would be a scientific law (like the law of gravity.)

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Here are some definitions which may help for your next post:

Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses. Theories do not grow up to be laws. Theories explain laws.

Theory: A scientifically testable general principle or body of principles offered to explain observed phenomena. In scientific usage, a theory is distinct from a hypothesis (or conjecture) that is proposed to explain previously observed phenomena. For a hypothesis to rise to the level of theory, it must predict the existence of new phenomena that are subsequently observed. A theory can be overturned if new phenomena are observed that directly contradict the theory. [Source]

When a scientific theory has a long history of being supported by verifiable evidence, it is appropriate to speak about "acceptance" of (not "belief" in) the theory; or we can say that we have "confidence" (not "faith") in the theory. It is the dependence on verifiable data and the capability of testing that distinguish scientific theories from matters of faith.

Law: a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature; "the laws of thermodynamics."

Observation: any information collected with the senses.

Data: Individual measurements; facts, figures, pieces of information, statistics, either historical or derived by calculation, experimentation, surveys, etc.; evidence from which conclusions can be inferred.

Fact: when an observation is confirmed repeatedly and by many independent and competent observers, it can become a fact.

[Old Landmarks]

Hardcore Evolutionists are for Big Government and Centralization of Power by Liberals.

Hatred for all things ‘Biblical’ defines the modern hardcore liberal Evolutionists on Free Republic and their allies in the leadership of the Democrat Party, (the far left leaders of the Democrat Party are all hardcore evolutionists).

Both of these groups hate American historical values, they love liberal judges and judcial activist courts, and both of these groups worship the Big Government public school monopoly above all.

No matter how destructive the Public School Monopoly becomes, the hardcore Evolutionists will still worship the Big Government Public School.

The Free Republic Hardcore Evolutionists and the other Big Government Lefties love the Big Government Public Schools because it is their way of using the point of a gun to promote their materialistic religious views.

The hardcore evolutionists on Free Republic who claim to be small government libertarians are the worst liars of all and have proven they are actually for the worst extreme of Big Government Force. In fact they blubber about their Big Government Public Schools in almost every thread.

The Free Republic Hardcore Evolutionists always appeal to Big Government and favor an Oligarchy.

The Free Republic hardcore evolutionists worship Big Government at its very worst (public school monopoly) but claim libertarianism as a convenient, dishonest excuse for the extreme moral liberalism they spew on this conservative forum.

The Free Republic Hardcore Evolutionists are liars of the worst kind. They repeat the liberal dogma of the far left at DU and the Daily Kos.

Like all liberals, they want the Big Government, centalized power to undermine parental authority while using Big Government Public Schools, (run by liberals) to indoctrinate other people's children.