Evolution Must Be Taught in Public Schools

[pamela]

me thinks they are rote teaching the bible
alas, this is sad.... what does it profit a student to lay down all the information and yet not have understanding?
(Pam's twist on an old adage)

[Essay]

Originally Posted by riper

Evolution denies the very first thing that is writing in the Bible.

Doesn't the "very first thing... in the Bible" supports Evolution?

GENES IS... In the beginning....

~

...But seriously, rote memorization has a place in the developing mind, separate from understanding, IMHO.

Who would deny the joy of later insight, as wisdom finally informs an old adage?

Or what about how the rhythm of memorized language informs our later creativity ...and even conprehension, perhaps?

~

[Moontanman]

Creationism or ID should not be taught in school, not to young kids not to old kids not to college kids. It's lies, it's like teaching Santa Claus is real in school. At no point should kids be lied to for any reason.

The reason creationism is popular is that allows complete idiots to feel important because they get to reveal an important "truth" that can only be revealed by them. They don't have to study to learn this truth all they have to is be stupid and hear it from someone else who is stupid.

Creationists take great pleasure in trying to make evolution and the people that think it is the way the Earth and the life on the earth have come about look stupid. I've quietly sat in on discussions about this among the stupid faithful. They tell their kids lies on top of lies to try and denigrate real learning and intelligence. Kids need the truth.

[pamela]

well......I do not think you are being very kind here Moontanman. I love these as you put it "stupid people", many are family members and friends. I can attest to their intelligence, and reserve the understanding that maybe that do not have all the answers. Religion has a way of blind siding common sense, and although this is unfortunate, it remains true.
Presenting all types of religions, not just Christianity, would broaden the minds of students. Of course, it would need to be objective.We cannot simply hide Creationism under the rug, when so many people believe it to be true.
Both evolution and creationism need to be learned and it is up to the student to determine the legitamacy. I would not suppress it, or any belief system's fundamentals.The world is a vast place with many ideas and concepts that are worthy of investigating, if only for the reason of understanding humanity and furthering the human cause

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by pamela

well......I do not think you are being very kind here Moontanman. I love these as you put it "stupid people", many are family members and friends. I can attest to their intelligence, and reserve the understanding that maybe that do not have all the answers. Religion has a way of blind siding common sense, and although this is unfortunate, it remains true.
Presenting all types of religions, not just Christianity, would broaden the minds of students. Of course, it would need to be objective.We cannot simply hide Creationism under the rug, when so many people believe it to be true.
Both evolution and creationism need to be learned and it is up to the student to determine the legitamacy. I would not suppress it, or any belief system's fundamentals.The world is a vast place with many ideas and concepts that are worthy of investigating, if only for the reason of understanding humanity and furthering the human cause

If you want to teach belief systems in school I have no problem with it, in a philosophy class. Evolution is not a belief system, it's science, based on evidence. Creationism is a belief, it has no facts, no evidence of facts, nothing what so ever to back it up but a bunch of people who are either too lazy or too stupid to do anything but believe that they are told because it allows them to feel special and above everyone who disagrees with them, especially intelligent people who they are jealous of. This stead fast belief in religion is dangerous, people are willing to kill over there beliefs. Religion has come up against science at every point in the human existence and religion always looses. Religion should keep to it's side of the street before science kicks it's ass again.

[pamela]

what I am saying is to not suppress any of it. All should be taught objectively, especially religion. I am not suggesting a class of evolution versus creationism. I am simply stating that all information should be found in the curriculum. Theology and sciences classes can dissect the information.
I see that you have added lazy to stupid as well

[Galapagos]

As far as "teaching both" and letting children decide, debate, or apply critical thinking to issues mythology/magic vs. science... I think Massimo Pigliucci summed the response to this up well when addressing Sara Palin's views on "teaching both" :

Originally Posted by Pigliucci

Now this is disingenuous at best. Education is not about having “kids debate both sides,” since most kids would probably conclude that the earth is flat and at the center of the universe (after all, the sensorial evidence is overwhelming in favor of the flat-earth, Ptolemaic system). Education is, at its core, about two things: a) We want our students to have access to the best of what humanity has produced, be that in science, philosophy, literature, economics or what have you. b) We want to provide students with the necessary tools to engage in critical thinking and serious analysis of whatever claim comes under their scrutiny.

According to criterion (a), “teaching both” isn’t going to cut it, because creationism is simply not even in the ballpark of the best ideas ever produced by humanity. On the contrary, it is superstitious nonsense that harks back to an earlier era of ignorance about how the world works. But things aren't much rosier for creationists under criterion (b) either, despite all the talk about “teaching the controversy.” Learning critical thinking is not a matter of being exposed to a “fair and balanced” view of everything and be told “you decide.” Rather, it proceeds through learning about logic, about assessing evidence, and about the many ways in which human senses and reasoning abilities can fail us if we are not on guard. If students really do assimilate all of that, just one look at creationist claims would make it painfully clear that they don’t need to be further entertained.

If we're going to teach creationism in school it either needs to be in a class about religion or mythology. Allowing equal scientific discussion of creationism is the equivalent of allowing serious discussion of alchemy, astrology, and the theory that the moon is made out of cheese.

[pamela]

well said Galapagos,
there can be no scientific discussion as creationism is simply conjecture and not science

[Essay]

I hope nobody thinks I'm in any way advocating for the teaching of Creationism or ID in the classroom.

There's plenty of rote memorization that can be done with science and literature, ...as well as (elsewhere) the Bible.
I only mentioned it as a chance to try the little joke about Genes Is vs. Genesis.

I don't even understand how one would teach these in the science classroom.
To me, ID is about origins, and Evolution is about the process occurring after the origin; two very different things.

As a part of a survey of religions class, or a philosophy of science class, they would be fine I suppose; but what purpose can they serve in a science classroom.
===

Well, I see I'm just echoing the wisdom of others here... sorry.
But, I wanted to clarify my "rote memorization" comment.
~

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by pamela

there can be no scientific discussion as creationism is simply conjecture and not science

...and that of course is the interesting option!

Of course those who support teaching Creationism Intelligent Design in schools would *howl* if it was used as an *example* of "simple conjecture" compared critically to Evolution as a supported Scientific Theory that has been thoroughly subjected to the rigors of the Scientific Method.

What wicked and dissembling glass of mine made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne?
Buffy