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 ...
I was being sarcastic. I know that some discussion of evolution is on a much higher scientific level than my examples. However, much of what is produced as "scientific" material for children is simply idiotic, and cutesy artwork or clever computer animation doesn't make it anything other than frankly fictitious.
The imagery you have created is too funny.
LOL! Good. :-)
Anoreth could draw it :-).
But seriously, I've read enough of your comments, RA, to know that you can produce a meaningful argument for your position.
However, the fact the subject of this article is crying "Censorship!" because she's not allowed to promote her book to a captive audience of school children suggests that she reasons at the "cow covered with pine needles" level.
Hehehehe. That's stretching the definition of "science" to the breaking point.
*Yawn* You creationists constantly call the TOE a "religion" without any support for your claim.
It's getting old. Find a new dead horse to beat.
Yup. Some diversities are not fit for celebration.
I can hardly wait to see her book where the cuddly critters set out to teach quantum physics.
Why did the phrase "Dumb as a box of rocks" suddenly pop into my head?
Sounds to me like that school opted for
Political Correctness ..
Just my 2 cents
And why is it so important to evolutionists to indoctrinate children with evolutionary beliefs?
Why did this writer have a chip on their shoulder and insist on talking to the kids about evolution instead of writing?
Patrick Henry has posted links to plans to indoctrinate public school kindergardeners with evolutionary beliefs before. Why is that necessary?
Thank you! :-) You honor me.
However, the fact the subject of this article is crying "Censorship!" because she's not allowed to promote her book to a captive audience of school children suggests that she reasons at the "cow covered with pine needles" level.
Here is where I disagree. From the above article: "We just don't need that kind of debate" does lend itself to an air of censorship.
The theory of evolution is a scientific theory, not a "belief".
I disagree. If the purpose of the person's appearance was to teach writing (and why can't the regular teachers teach writing?), then introducing a disputed scientific topic produces no benefit for the school.
The writer is free to hawk her book at Wal-mart. Every major publication and media outlet presupposes "evolution," often at a "whale hopping on its tail" level of simplicity. Expanding the definition of "censorship" doesn't benefit anyone.
That is the goal of the IDer's and creationists in this country. Better to sacrifice education for ignorance, so more people receive Salvation. Sounds like some Muslim theocracies to me. As I, and others, have said on other threads, creationism is a cancer in Conservatism.
Disputed by whom?
I would put money on the table that if the subject was about "global warming" the author would have been welcomed with open arms.
Campion's Law in action!
My children have all learned to read and write without the appearance of a single saleswoman author. Astonishing!
What you call indoctrination is nothing more than science education.
Why did this writer have a chip on their shoulder and insist on talking to the kids about evolution instead of writing?
She wanted to do both. If the school felt the subject matter of her book was innappropriate, perhaps they should not have invited her.
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