Posted on 01/15/2005 7:43:42 AM PST by SeasideSparrow
The textbook sticker struck down reads:
"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."
______________________________________
--- Why doesn't the board just put this type of disclaimer in every book in the school? ---
"This book may contain theoretical material. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."
The problem in this case is that the board is pretending that their 'sticker' is not a religious statement; -- that pretense is probably what the judge found repugnant to our Constitution.
Evolutionary theory is seen as a 'religious' affront by some fundamentalists. -- Here we have a public school board put a sticker stating a religious opinion about evolution in -some- textbooks, not all, -- pretending the 'sticker' is not a religious statement; -- that pretense is a direct violation to their oath to support our Constitutions principles , -- one of which is the principle of keeping religion out of politics.
I agree that theories should not be taught as fact, and should be approached using critical thinking, as my comment notes.
Many 'cleverly' ask, "what about this sticker is religious?" -- The answer: -- self deception 'for the cause' seems to be a major blind spot in the evolution of moral common sense.
It is not clever - [of either side in this issue] - to play politics with the education of grade school kids.
Nice reply. Some people just need to move into the 21st century. Next thing you all will want is a sticker on all books that say we went to the moon. Every culture has its myths that oppose scientific fact (evolution is fact). I guess they will want their own stickers some day.
Bass claims:
"The prevailing judicial philosophy in America is that some views are acceptable within our modern society, while others are not. An evolutionary perspective that declares life meaningless and establishes man as the final moral arbiter is considered objective and scientifically based.
As a result, nothing else should be taught in public schools.
On the other side of the coin, creationism is based on emotion and ignorance and therefore should be shielded from impressionable young minds."
You are exactly right. Even scientists often have their own agendas.
Thanks for the link!
If you knew anything about the SCIENCE of evolution you would know that it says nothing about a single celled creature figuring out anything. Mutations over time, natural selection, environmental pressures is all that is required. You crevos need to read a few science books and worry less about putting stickers on them.
No matter which side of the evolution debate you may be on, the fact remains that this particular judge is a scientific illiterate who does not understand the meaning of the scientific term "Theory".
The moon is made of green cheese sticker is the next one you want I suppose.
"If you knew anything about the SCIENCE of evolution you would know that it says nothing about a single celled creature figuring out anything. Mutations over time, natural selection, environmental pressures is all that is required. You crevos need to read a few science books and worry less about putting stickers on them."
Ok, I'll bite. We get life (out of what now?) in the form of a few single cells on the entire planet (this being such a rare happening, even two at the same time would be nearly impossible. lets set that aside for right now as well) and of these cells- instead of simply living off of sunlight and nearly limitless nutrients- one decideds to eat another one, thus making a less efficient manner of energy source viable for future cells via genetics.
After the statistically impossible happens and not only do we get more than one cell to form when we in modern day cant repeat it, these cells reproduce, and then... start eating each other to get LESS energy and mutate into more complex and less effecient forms of life.
Summary? If evolution is how we came about, something HAD to want it to happen. The idea that an organism would mutate into something that was less efficient and THEN not only survive, but thrive?
Not blindly accepting that isn't just for "crevos," it's for any person who can sniff out when the left has been to active in the science community. (remember when homosexuality was an illness, and women didn't have an alibi for murder when they were on their period?)
No, the judges overstepped their role. Either through ignorance of science and terminology, or through an agenda.
"Clinton appointee or not, we need more judges like him. Out with the old myths of man being some 'special' creation, made by something you can't see. Evolution is a fact, how it occurred and occurs is the theory part. The warning labels belong on the religious books."
If you can't prove "how" in science, you can't say it's a fact!
By the way, if Man isn't "special" why do we run the show here? How come monkeys never picked up a plow? Or domesticated a horse? You can tell me we aren't special on this planet when a herd of buffalo fly food supplies into a starving nation from a b-52 they built and developed themselves.
In the final analysis...education begins in the home.
Parents need to discuss schoolwork with their children beginning in kindergarten.
It's our obligation after all.
Good point. I don't agree with the judges' ruling. I am a teacher though and DO agree with your above statement. If any parent has any concerns, he/she should contact the teacher. One of the parents of one of my first graders felt that one book's content was a little too much for her daughter so I said not to read it and promptly removed it. I appreciated that parent for bringing that to my attention. The only time my family ever had anything like that in 30 years of kids going to public schools was one fifth grade teacher YEARS ago who was having her kids read Raiders of the Lost Ark. The parents did not like some of the content so she stopped sending out the book. I have always appreciated my mom and dad taking such an interest in what we learned. Both my mom and dad helped and encouraged us in our educational aims (from a generation when that was usually just Mom's job). I too, appreciate the good parents of my students who do the same.
As far as evolution, my mom used the old flashlight experiment and had me convinced of creation in five minutes. I used the so-called evolution as a means to strengthen my belief in creation. After all, how can one view the order, laws, etc. that exist in the world and conclude that there was not a guiding hand behind it??
My daughter's freshman high school teacher assigned The Bluest Eye.
When I began reading the book I decided it was not going to be read by my daughter. Another parent of a boy made the same request. While both were assigned a different book, it was nearly equally as unacceptable IMHO.
I appreciate your respect for the parents. It's a rare thing.
I always read the material that was assigned to my children.
My daughter's freshman high school teacher assigned The Bluest Eye.
When I began reading the book I decided it was not going to be read by my daughter. Another parent of a boy made the same request. While both were assigned a different book, it was nearly equally as unacceptable IMHO.
I appreciate your respect for the parents. It's a rare thing.
Actually, I don't think respect for the parents is as rare as it sounds. The majority of us appreciate parents who give a d___ and work with their children AND the teacher. Yes, there can be some problems, but I think if two cooler heads prevail, that many problems can be solved in 5 minutes or less without having to go off the deep end.
As for parents, I absolutely love them. Year after year I get good ones. I count them as being in my class too. I feel so lucky. It does help that I do live in their neighborhood and associate with them outside of school too. I sincerely appreciate their sincere compliments. They are like gems to me, too priceless beyond words. I always try to give sincere compliments when I can. It sometimes comes back to haunt you. I was in the local library and saw a student from my school whose mom has served our school in so many ways. But this time the students were with their dad. Not knowing that they were divorced, I said many praises about their mom. Later on, she came up to me and thanked me profusely. Noticing my surprise, she further explained that her boys don't hear many good things said about their mother from their dad and that they appreciated it. Interesting....
I even bought my house from a student's family:).
In my first year of teaching first grade, they did so much to help me have a successful year.
I am lucky that I don't have too many problems with parents because they are often reasonable with me and we work things out if there are concerns. I think that parents OR teachers can each go off the deep end. But if we work together, good things result. When one or both focuses on the negative, it's the opposite. It is a hard job to satisfy everyone. Certainly politicians can't do it. Neither can we. However, I always try to--LOL.
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