Posted on 05/24/2005 4:04:48 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
Swarthmore College Biologist Likens Creationists to Holocaust Deniers, Saying Both Falsely Imply Debate Is Warranted.
The current debate in Kansas over how to teach evolution gives credence to "quack science" and endangers good science education when it is most needed, says a Swarthmore College evolutionary biologist. He also dismisses claims that evolution is "just a theory" that science textbooks should treat as unsound or open to debate.
"Evolution is a 'theory' like gravity is a 'theory,'" says Associate Professor of Biology Colin Purrington, who teaches a class on evolution every fall. "The low-budget remake of the Scopes trial that is currently taking place in Kansas will make educated Kansans want to flee the state so that their children will not be subjected to quack scientific ideas such as intelligent design."
Kansas Board of Education officials began hearings on May 5 on whether to require that public school science instruction treat evolution as questionable and "intelligent design" as equally valid. A final decision is expected this summer.
"It's nearly impossible to teach evolution to children without coming under attack from religious fundamentalists who want to inject their beliefs into science curricula," Purrington says. "They say 'teach the controversy.' But to do that is akin to debating with Holocaust deniers. It just gives credence to something that is made up."
To combat what he sees as religious fundamentalism harming science education, Purrington has made available on the Web a series of resources for public school science teachers and their supporters. Included are news items on evolution cases around the country, a list of gifts for "brave science teachers," editorial cartoons, and t-shirts and stickers of Charles Darwin. He also plans to have his students design exhibits on evolution for children. [learn more at Purrington's Outreach website.]
While his efforts have brought hate mail, Purrington says his outreach efforts to lay audiences are essential. "Educators can't afford to be apathetic about this," Purrington says. "Our kids' futures depend on their receiving quality education if they are to compete on a global stage."
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Good resource there.
I hope this is nice.
I can't imaging anyone still believing that the universe was created only 6000 years ago. It boggles my mind to think that people still think is a credible explanation for the univers.
While I believe in God I still can't believe creationism as it's espoused.
Stick around. They'll be here soon enough.
Ping for later
Ping for later, too
I recall learning about the "Iroquois Creation Myth" in grade-school back in the 1960's. Something about "sky people" dropping to earth from "floating turtles." We learned about the myth as part of the social studies curriculum, not in a science class. That is where creationism should be taught -- in social studies -- not as science. But if we are going to teach creationism in science classes, then we ought to give equal treatment in science classes to the Iroquois Creation Myth if for no reason than both "theories" are similar in many respects and supported by the same amount of scientific evidence.
Why do our schools do so poorly? -- Because of the LACK of religious zealouts in the mix, because of the hyper-immune-disorder-like nature of the educational bureaucracy and infrastructure at rejecting anything with "fire" in it. It's too much discover-your-own-pevic-tolerance and pablum science. All "Lowered Expectations" in the words of the late night comedy gag.
Dear evo-zealots: If you truly care about science and evolutionary theory, you will demand that creation and religious moral absolutes be allowed BACK in the classroom. For it is from that group of tough-minded teachers and teachings that the minds and spirit of great young scientists will be forged and evoked. From which the next Stephen Jay Gould and Stephen Hawking will come.
Without it, you are lost more than we.
What is pevic tolerance?
Our brainwashed little supernaturalists won't be able to compete in the real world?
Is that natural selection at work?
Belly button.
Oohh. Your sentence would've sounded better if you just said "navel-gazing".. Whatever the case may be, people who cannot find wonder in the natural world but instead require supernaturalism to 'fire' them up are not likely to become scientists in any event.
Good teachers have a lot of "preacher" in them. Most "scientists" would make terrible teachers.
That hypothesis is clearly and overwhelmingly refuted by history, past and present.
A pevic is an evolved pupik. A crossbreed of pelvic and pubic.
There you go talking about your alternate reality again..
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