Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Kids' Book on Evolution Stirs Censorship Debate
Star Tribune ^ | May 12, 2005 | Jill Burcum

Posted on 05/12/2005 5:30:04 AM PDT by wallcrawlr

With its lavish illustrations of colorful, cuddly critters, "Our Family Tree" looks like the kind of book kids keep by their bedside to read again and again.

But when its St. Paul author, Lisa Westberg Peters, planned to talk about the book in classroom appearances today and Friday at a Monticello, Minn., elementary school, educators got cold feet.

"Our Family Tree" focuses on evolution, the scientific explanation for human origins that some believe contradicts biblical teachings. Peters' appearances, which were to focus on helping kids learn how to write, were canceled.

"It's a cute book. There's nothing wrong with it. We just don't need that kind of debate," said Brad Sanderson, principal at Pinewood Elementary.

Monticello's assistant superintendent, Jim Johnson, said school officials made a reasonable request of Peters to talk about writing but leave the discussion about evolution to teachers. When she refused, the visit was scuttled.

Across the country, there has been increasing opposition to teaching evolution. Peters said officials at two other Minnesota school districts have asked her not to talk about the book in visits over the past year.

The author believes that she is being censored -- something the schools deny.

"Once you start censoring, it's a slippery slope. Are geology and physics next? You have to stop it right away," said Peters, who won a Minnesota Book Award for "Our Family Tree," published in 2003.

In Kansas, the State Board of Education is expected to require that teachers tell students that evolution is controversial. Bills have been introduced in Georgia and Alabama to allow educators to question evolution in the classroom and offer alternatives.

Last year, the Grantsburg, Wis., school district drew widespread attention when a new policy urged teachers to explore alternative theories to evolution.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: churchandstate; crevolist; education; mustardmists
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 281-296 next last

1 posted on 05/12/2005 5:30:05 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MacDorcha

ping


2 posted on 05/12/2005 5:31:51 AM PDT by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr

Censorship is when the government prevents you from reading something. This is "choosing curriculum". As best I can tell, the book is not banned from the premises.


3 posted on 05/12/2005 5:37:20 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr

Does it illustrate how giraffes streeeeetched their necks to get taller each generation?


4 posted on 05/12/2005 5:43:23 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Every day is Mother's Day when you have James the Wonder Baby!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr
I could, honestly, care less about this "debate" over evolution, however I fail to see how this is censorship at all.
5 posted on 05/12/2005 5:48:53 AM PDT by escapefromboston (manny ortez: mvp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr

This kind of chicken-heartedness on the part of our educators will only hurt our country further in the competition for jobs based on advanced education. If we decide that the scientific method should be jettisoned whenever it doesn't confirm somebody's personal religious beliefs, we will be left in the dust by countries such as India and China.


6 posted on 05/12/2005 5:49:12 AM PDT by edweena
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr
Peters' appearances, which were to focus on helping kids learn how to write, were canceled.

In the school's push to help kids learn to write, I hear they had four proposals:

1) Write about Evolution
2) Write about Evil Jooos oppressing Palestinians
3) Write about how America causes all the world's problems
4) Write about how your family celebrates your favorite day.

Since the first choice is no longer an option, they'll have to pick one of the others. I'm not optimistic that #4 will get many votes.

7 posted on 05/12/2005 5:55:27 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: edweena

Clarify:

Are you saying that Indians and Chinese have no personal religious beliefs?? That doesnt make sense.


8 posted on 05/12/2005 6:03:25 AM PDT by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr
evolution, the scientific explanation for human origins

We must protect the sacred scrolls that scientifically prove apes are descended from man...

9 posted on 05/12/2005 6:07:44 AM PDT by joesnuffy (The generation that survived the depression and won WW2 proved poverty does not cause crime)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

The bible is a great example of a book that is truly censored in public elememtary schools.


10 posted on 05/12/2005 6:27:06 AM PDT by TaxRelief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
Does it illustrate how giraffes streeeeetched their necks to get taller each generation?

Or how the cow evolved from the pine tree?

11 posted on 05/12/2005 6:39:59 AM PDT by Alex Murphy (Psalm 73)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry

Ping.


12 posted on 05/12/2005 6:43:09 AM PDT by Junior (“Even if you are one-in-a-million, there are still 6,000 others just like you.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Junior

You want this thread to get an evo ping?


13 posted on 05/12/2005 6:56:07 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (<-- Click on my name. The List-O-Links for evolution threads is at my freeper homepage.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Junior; PatrickHenry

This is just "par for the course" these days.


14 posted on 05/12/2005 6:56:52 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Alex Murphy

All you have to do is draw the pictures: Pine tree ... pine tree with legs ... cow covered with pine needles ... cow. Everyone knows that a theory is true if you show pictures to illustrate it - especially if the pictures are computer-generated!


15 posted on 05/12/2005 6:57:41 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Every day is Mother's Day when you have James the Wonder Baby!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry; Junior
You want this thread to get an evo ping?

50/50 on this one. :-) LOL!

16 posted on 05/12/2005 6:57:49 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry

Oh yeah. This is one of those cultural thingies.


17 posted on 05/12/2005 6:57:50 AM PDT by Junior (“Even if you are one-in-a-million, there are still 6,000 others just like you.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
All you have to do is draw the pictures: Pine tree ... pine tree with legs ... cow covered with pine needles ... cow. Everyone knows that a theory is true if you show pictures to illustrate it - especially if the pictures are computer-generated!

I hope you were being sarcastic.

18 posted on 05/12/2005 7:00:16 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: wallcrawlr

She should be censored. She is promoting a particular religion, not science.


19 posted on 05/12/2005 7:00:30 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro; Junior; longshadow; RadioAstronomer; Doctor Stochastic; js1138; Shryke; RightWhale; ...
EvolutionPing
A pro-evolution science list with over 270 names.
See the list's description at my freeper homepage.
Then FReepmail to be added or dropped.

20 posted on 05/12/2005 7:01:53 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (<-- Click on my name. The List-O-Links for evolution threads is at my freeper homepage.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 281-296 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson