'Intelligent design' theory threatens science classrooms

Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | 11/22/2002 | ALAN I. LESHNER

[Aric2000]

In Cobb County, Ga., controversy erupted this spring when school board officials decided to affix "disclaimer stickers" to science textbooks, alerting students that "evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things."

The stickers were the Cobb County District School Board's response to intelligent design theory, which holds that the complexity of DNA and the diversity of life forms on our planet and beyond can be explained only by an extra-natural intelligent agent. The ID movement -- reminiscent of creationism but more nuanced and harder to label -- has been quietly gaining momentum in a number of states for several years, especially Georgia and Ohio.

Stickers on textbooks are only the latest evidence of the ID movement's successes to date, though Cobb County officials did soften their position somewhat in September following a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. In a subsequent policy statement, officials said the biological theory of evolution is a "disputed view" that must be "balanced" in the classroom, taking into account other, religious teachings.

Surely, few would begrudge ID advocates their views or the right to discuss the concept as part of religious studies. At issue, rather, is whether ID theory, so far unproven by scientific facts, should be served to students on the same platter with the well-supported theory of evolution.

How the Cobb County episode will affect science students remains uncertain since, as the National Center for Science Education noted, the amended policy statement included "mixed signals."

But it's clear that the ID movement is quickly emerging as one of the more significant threats to U.S. science education, fueled by a sophisticated marketing campaign based on a three-pronged penetration of the scientific community, educators and the general public.

In Ohio, the state's education board on Oct. 14 passed a unanimous though preliminary vote to keep ID theory out of the state's science classrooms. But the board's ruling left the door open for local school districts to present ID theory together with science and suggested that scientists should "continue to investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory."

In fact, even while the state-level debate continued, the Patrick Henry Local School District, based in Columbus, passed a motion this June to support "the idea of intelligent design being included as appropriate in classroom discussions in addition to other scientific theories."

Undaunted by tens of thousands of e-mails it has already received on the topic, the state's education board is now gamely inviting further public comment through November. In December, Ohio's Board of Education will vote to conclusively determine whether alternatives to evolution should be included in new guidelines that spell out what students need to know about science at different grade levels.

Meanwhile, ID theorists reportedly have been active in Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, New Jersey and other states as well as Ohio and Georgia.

What do scientists think of all this? We have great problems with the claim that ID is a scientific theory or a science-based alternative to evolutionary theory. We don't question its religious or philosophical underpinnings. That's not our business. But there is no scientific evidence underlying ID theory.

No relevant research has been done; no papers have been published in scientific journals. Because it has no science base, we believe that ID theory should be excluded from science curricula in schools.

In fact, the Board of Directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest general scientific society in the world, passed a resolution this month urging policy-makers to keep intelligent design theory out of U.S. science classrooms.

Noting that the United States has promised to "leave no child behind," the AAAS Board found that intelligent design theory -- if presented within science courses as factually based -- is likely to confuse American schoolchildren and undermine the integrity of U.S. science education. At a time when standards-based learning and performance assessments are paramount, children would be better served by keeping scientific information separate from religious concepts.

Certainly, American society supports and encourages a broad range of viewpoints and the scientific community is no exception. While this diversity enriches the educational experience for students, science and conceptual belief systems should not be co-mingled, as ID proponents have repeatedly proposed.

The ID argument that random mutations in nature and natural selection, for example, are too complex for scientific explanation is an interesting -- and for some, highly compelling -- philosophical or theological concept. Unfortunately, it's being put forth as a scientifically based alternative to the theory of biological evolution, and it isn't based on science. In sum, there's no data to back it up, and no way of scientifically testing the validity of the ideas proposed by ID advocates.

The quality of U.S. science education is at stake here. We live in an era when science and technology are central to every issue facing our society -- individual and national security, health care, economic prosperity, employment opportunities.

Children who lack an appropriate grounding in science and mathematics, and who can't discriminate what is and isn't evidence, are doomed to lag behind their well-educated counterparts. America's science classrooms are certainly no place to mix church and state.

Alan I. Leshner is CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of the journal Science; www.aaas.org

[goodseedhomeschool]

You must not be aware of the surgeons and lawyers and doctors and more who have been homeschooled. Not to mention university presidents, judges, etc.

[goodseedhomeschool]

Sounds kinda like the day I had. I'm just glad it's over and I made it through without stroking out, lol.

[goodseedhomeschool]

I see what you are saying. In time (very near future) more and more actual colleges primarily for homeschoolers will spring up. Patrick Henry College in VA is a great example of the future.

[Aric2000]

I loved Thomas Dolby, never got to see him in concert though, darnit, the lucky dog.

Good evening there RA!!

By the way, Are you using multifrequency recievers in your project or are you listening to a certain band, or just a certain frequency?

[Aric2000]

No, what they are saying is that they aren't homeschooled for their medical degree, they may have been homeschooled, but they still go to an accredited university or college for their upper education.

I sure wouldn't want to teach my daughter how to be a lawyer, god forbid she ever becomes one of those leeches, But I would still send her off to an accredited college for that degree.

[goodseedhomeschool]

We are prospecting Patrick Henry. I think we will visit the campus this summer. My son wants to work for HSLDA one day. We just bought the Constitutional Law correspondence course to use next year. I hope it's a nice place.

[goodseedhomeschool]

LOl yes I understood what he meant about medical college. I'm tired, lol.

[Aric2000]

I missed that one totally as well.

Do you keep these posts bookmarked somewhere Nilla, that one is definitely a keeper..

[RadioAstronomer]

Dr. HOvind's diploma could not have been from a mill or he could not have taught math and science in public as well as privates schools for much of his life. As for his PhD? It was a non-accredited school from my understanding. Either way, does it nullify his outlook in any way? I do not have a PhD, I agree with most of what he says. AM I too of no value or worth in my ideas? Does that paper you say you hold make you somehow more knowledgable? I know a whole lot of people who claim to have knowledge, but well, you and I both know better.

Have I ever discounted anyones opinion based on a degree? Not once ever on FR. I do value your inputs.

But on the other hand, IMHO using a diploma mill is not a proper way to get a title/degree. So we made fun of the mills. I would never in my wildest dreams make fun of someone just because of a title or lack of one. A few of the most knowleged people I have ever worked with never recieved a degree.

[Aric2000]

Cool, A constitutional Law lawyer I can handle, as long as they don't believe it's a living breathing document, LOL. We can always use more Ann Coulter types, male or female.

There are a LOT of colleges that are now going OUT of their way to bring in homeschooled students, I think it is a very nice change.

Then again, I can't say I blame them, have to come up with quality students from somewhere....;)

[goodseedhomeschool]

Is it really a mill? I understood it to be a private Christian college. He talks about it on one of his videos and gives a link and all.

[RightWingNilla]

Do you keep these posts bookmarked somewhere Nilla, that one is definitely a keeper..

Good idea.

Longshadow should add that one to his G3K list'o'lies.

[RadioAstronomer]

recieved = received! LOL I am tired tonight!

[goodseedhomeschool]

I wish I was as good at debating as Ann. I love her. Cody can argue with a stop sign, lol.
I am so happy to see all the colleges around here looking for homeschoolers. It really lifts my spirits.

[Aric2000]

I can never spell that word right, I am right probably 50% of the time, because I spell it and then say, looks like they'll understand what I mean and leave it, that I after, or before E, except after C thing really gets me, I can never remember which it is, and then it turns out that there are all kinds of exceptions, so i just take my best guess...

[goodseedhomeschool]

It's ok Radio. I would have long been put away if the spelling police were watching me,lol. It is very easy to type one letter for another late at night. Most people just get used to my bad typing, lol.

[Aric2000]

Ann has been on the local talk station here twice, and both times I got through to talk to her. She is just Classy, and intelligent, but then again, she is conservative, so what else could she be but intelligent.

I always tell her that it's her biggest Seattle Freeper fan, then she goes off on a tangent on how she lurks here, but never posts, because then she would never write anything that would make her money. LOL

[goodseedhomeschool]

I saw her one night on that Bill Meyhar show I think it was. She was a little dynomite. I wish I could be that quick with a comeback and be as rational and cool as she is. I tend to get emotional and I know I have lost it when I do. She should teach a debating course for homeschoolers. That would be way cool.

[Aric2000]

Well, believe it or not, It is time for me to go to bed, I have to get up early and go to a job interview.

Been looking for a new job for the past month, the company I work for, couldn't find their rears with a map and compass, so I have decided that it's time to move on. But can't move on without something to move on to, so wish me luck and I will talk to you all tomorrow.

After tomorrow I will be gone for 4 days, off to Amateur radio field day, for 4 days of camping and playing with my ham radio. So see you all tomorrow.

Good night

[goodseedhomeschool]

Good Night Aric. Good Luck with the job interview. I pray you get the job you really like. I am sure you will be great. That company will be blessed to have you.