No evolution for Italian teens

The Scientist ^ | April 28, 2004 | Rossella Lorenzi

[AndrewC]

No evolution for Italian teens

Scientists, teachers shocked by plan to cut evolutionary teaching in secondary school | By Rossella Lorenzi

Tens of thousands of Italians have expressed their disagreement with a plan by the minister of education, universities, and research, Letizia Moratti, to ban the teaching of evolutionary theory to young teenagers.

Fearing the measure will pave the way for creationist teaching, more than 40,000 citizens—and the number is still increasing—have subscribed a petition launched last week by some of the country's top scientists through the daily La Repubblica.

The document, signed by Nobel laureates Rita Levi Montalcini and Renato Dulbecco, together with scientists including Luca Cavalli Sforza, Bruno Dallapiccola, and Alberto Piazza, urges Moratti to “review the secondary schools programs and to rectify an oversight which is detrimental to the scientific culture of future generations.”

“Ignoring the theory of evolution is a cultural limitation sacrificing the scientific curiosity of youth. It's unquestionably fair to point out that Darwinism and the theories that derived from it show gaps and unsolved problems, but the link between the past and the present of mankind shouldn't be completely ignored,” write the scientists.

The Italian school system, which Moratti aims to reform shortly, is divided into three levels: primary school (“scuola elementare”), which lasts 5 years, from 6 to 11 years of age, secondary school (“scuola media”), which lasts 3 years, and high school (“scuola superiore”), which lasts 5 years.

Established by legislative decree on February 19, the new teaching programs for secondary schools make no mention of the history of human evolution, nor of the relationship between mankind and other species.

As a result, boys and girls aged 12 to 14 will have no idea of subjects such as “Structure, Function, and Evolution of Living Organisms” and “The Biological and Cultural Evolution of Mankind,” said the scientists who launched the petition.

[AndrewC]

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It seems as if this debate exists elsewhere.

[AndrewC]

Ping.

[nmh]

Looks like there is hope for these folks.

[cyborg]

Should I get popcorn for this thread?

[LiteKeeper]

I'll get the soda

[cyborg]

see you in the smokey backroom then :D

[AndrewC]

Should I get popcorn for this thread?

Don't know. I'm just presenting the story.

[cyborg]

http://www.answersingenesis.org

I think all sides should be presented and let kids decide for themselves. As for me, I believe in creation.

[farmfriend]

.

[antiRepublicrat]

Italian schools have never been among the best in Europe, and their slide continues.

[AndrewC]

I find this a particularly refreshing viewpoint by some Italian scientists.

“Ignoring the theory of evolution is a cultural limitation sacrificing the scientific curiosity of youth. It's unquestionably fair to point out that Darwinism and the theories that derived from it show gaps and unsolved problems, but the link between the past and the present of mankind shouldn't be completely ignored,”

Try that viewpoint here.

[walford]

Maybe the Taliban was right after all.

Might as well get an early start abandoning Western civilization. The Reformation, Enlightenment, limited representative government, and everything else that brought freedom and prosperity has been slowly undermined from within for decades.

The Eugenicists and their pro-abortion sisters have made it necessary for us to replace our dwindling numbers from places where tolerance of other cultures is inconceivable.

Thus, Europe will be governed by Sharia Law by the end of the century anyway. Eschewing reason in favor of dogma from the left and right will set mankind back a thousand years.

See the website in my tagline to read our epitaph.

Allahu Akbar!

[AndrewC]

Italian schools have never been among the best in Europe, and their slide continues.

Then I suggest that you and your children not attend their schools.

[Dataman]

Again, if evolutionists are threatened by academic freedom, all they need to do is prove competing views wrong. That's all. They claim to have the evidence so load it on a truck and tour the world.

[TaxRelief]

The problem is that evolutionary theory is not presented side-by-side with other theories (ie., creation, intelligent design).

When evolution is allowed to be taught in the schools it seems to be primarily focused on destroying other theories.

[Stone Mountain]

I think all sides should be presented and let kids decide for themselves. As for me, I believe in creation.

How many differing views of creation should be offered?

[cyborg]

I meant creation vs. evolution and allow people to decide for themselves. I decided on creation.

[TaxRelief]

Why is it necessary to introduce the theory of evolution prior to High School, unless it is being done for the purpose of indoctrination?

Evolution theory is best understood when children have a reasonable grasp of basic chemistry, natural science and biology--all classes that are taught in 8th, 9th and 10th grade.

[Stone Mountain]

I meant creation vs. evolution and allow people to decide for themselves. I decided on creation.

But there are many creation stories out there. Pretty much all cultures and religions have their own distinct views of creation. Which creation stories would you teach alongside evolution?

[cyborg]

The biblical version of course. I posted a link before and that pretty much is what I believe.