Teach the controversy ['lawsuit-proof' balanced approach to teaching evolution]

WORLD ^ | July 21, 2007 | Mark Bergin

[Coyoteman]

Any article that harps on “Darwinism” paragraph after paragraph can be expected to be typical creationist propaganda. This one is no exception.

[swilliams53]

I know an eighth grade science teacher that allowed the students of have a debate of Darwin ‘evolution’ against alternate theories. He was fired from his job for this. There is no ability to question or have open ended debate regarding this topic. Anything that smells like ID, or Creation Theory will be attacked as a violation of church and state and you will be thrown out, or at a minimum asked to stop, or lose your teaching position. Let’s face it, Darwinism is more of a religion than people are willing to admit.

</rantover>

[TalonDJ]

Exactly. Any theory should be able to stand up to critical thinking. Nice to see some people are doing it. It is far more important to teach kids to think critically than it is to teach them any specific theories. After all critical thinking is the root of all science. Science class should be teaching kids to think, not to believe.

[Matchett-PI]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1575742/posts?page=70#70

[TalonDJ]

‘-ism’ is an appropriate english suffix for someone holding tightly to or advocating for believe or system. Seems less cumbersome to use than than to use ‘proponents of Evolutionary theory’.

[ghost of nixon]

Any article that harps on “Darwinism” paragraph after paragraph can be expected to be typical creationist propaganda.

it's an article from a Christian magazine - I doubt they are trying to hide their interests here. Evolution as a theory will only benefit from students taught to think critically in these areas. The students will benefit also.

[shuckmaster]

This article twists the truth around to make it sound like a good thing for your children to be taught pig-ignorance in school. The DI is a well known Moonie front organization and it’s amazing that the same conservatives who’ve previously succeeded in keeping the Moonies out of their circulum are now cheering them in under the guise of demonizing post-Darwin science on paranoia based superstitious grounds.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

The only scientific way to teach anything is to consider alternate hypothesis. Teaching evolution in complete isolation — as if it were the only “theory” or even as if it were indisputable fact — is distinctly unscientific -- no matter how well grounded the Theory of Evolution is.

Students need to learn how the scientific method works in practice — it does not work by acquiescence to authority.

[Kevmo]

Parents think it’s really neat that I’m allowing kids to weigh the evidence from both sides and make their own informed conclusions.”
***Sounds good to me.

[Coyoteman]

Students need to learn how the scientific method works in practice — it does not work by acquiescence to authority.

Nor does it work by allowing religious dogma to substitute for scientific evidence.

[sig226]

I’m a firm believer in evolution, but I didn’t get the impression you got from the article. There are holes in the theory of evolution, as there are holes in any theory. There are millions of people who believe that those holes can be explained best by something other than a lack of evidence. To say that their opinions must be disregarded, which the ACLU has done for years, is as wrong as it is to say that the Bible teaches the only possible history of life on earth and no other will be tolerated.

IMO, more power to him. Teach what we know and don’t gloss over what we don’t know. The kiddies aren’t stupid and they don’t need to be indoctrinated. They can make up their own minds.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

It’s not a matter of teaching anyone’s dogma.

It’s a matter of teaching students the scientific method; so that they will be able to evaluate things themselves — or, perhaps even go on to a career in science, and make new discoveries.

[js1138]

He might mention to his students that the author of Evolution: A Theory in Crisis has done a 180.

[Oztrich Boy]

Parents think it’s really neat that I’m allowing kids to weigh the evidence from both sides and make their own informed conclusions.”
***Sounds good to me.

Best argument I've heard for allowing homosexual advocates to recruit students.

[rhema]

I’m a firm believer in evolution, but I didn’t get the impression you got from the article. There are holes in the theory of evolution, as there are holes in any theory. There are millions of people who believe that those holes can be explained best by something other than a lack of evidence. To say that their opinions must be disregarded, which the ACLU has done for years, is as wrong as it is to say that the Bible teaches the only possible history of life on earth and no other will be tolerated.

IMO, more power to him. Teach what we know and don’t gloss over what we don’t know. The kiddies aren’t stupid and they don’t need to be indoctrinated. They can make up their own minds.

Nicely balanced and articulately stated. (Ergo, you'll earn the enmity of only half of the posters to this kind of thread.)

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[rhema]

Best argument I've heard for allowing homosexual advocates to recruit students.

News flash: they already do. Ever heard of the Day of Silence? GLSEN? Gay-straight clubs? Another question: do you think their opinions are ever allowed to be balanced with contradictory opinions from, e.g., Exodus International, NARTH, Focus on the Family, etc.?

[Coyoteman]

I’m a firm believer in evolution, but I didn’t get the impression you got from the article. There are holes in the theory of evolution, as there are holes in any theory. There are millions of people who believe that those holes can be explained best by something other than a lack of evidence. To say that their opinions must be disregarded, which the ACLU has done for years, is as wrong as it is to say that the Bible teaches the only possible history of life on earth and no other will be tolerated.

But you must realize that the theory of evolution is a scientific theory. Any controversies, and there are many, are debated within a scientific context.

What ID, and creation "science" before it, seek to do is use belief, scripture and divine revelation as scientific evidence. They are not.

You say, "There are millions of people who believe that those holes can be explained best by something other than a lack of evidence." It doesn't matter what people believe about the theory of evolution. What matters is what the evidence says. And I have yet to see any science in creation "science" or in its younger cousin, ID. Rather, they are religious beliefs taking on the trappings of science in order to advance religious goals.

[ga medic]

“Best argument I’ve heard for allowing homosexual advocates to recruit students.”

LOL. You are right that is what all this homosexual education is about, at least that is what we were told before they made their presentation to the school.

I doubt most people here really want both sides taught. I think they mean that they want their side taught, and making it sound like a compromise is the only way they can accomplish that.