[darkocean]

The Watchdog Report asked a follow-up question: Does the governor believe in Darwin's theory of evolution?

Bush said: ``Yeah, but I don't think it should actually be part of the curriculum, to be honest with you. And people have different points of view and they can be discussed at school, but it does not need to be in the curriculum.''

In other words, he wouldn't want to stake his life on Darwin being right. Neither would I.

[corkoman]

In other words, he wouldn't want to stake his life on Darwin being right. Neither would I.

Right about what? Its always interesting to hear what folks think Darwin hypothesized.

The specific Darwinian theory that is referenced by those with science backgrounds is basically the #1 - "survival of the fittest" observation but with special reference to the fact that #2 - some survival "accessories" were due to mutations and that these may be passed along.

Mendel pretty much put all that to rest with his poppies.

So what is it you think the Darwin theorized - or do you doubt #s 1 and 2 above??

[GladesGuru]

Of Bush, you quoted his as "In other words, he wouldn't want to stake his life on Darwin being right."

Jeb's political life, for certain.

Gotta give the Governor credit where it is due; he made good on his promise to improve education. Proof of that is that the teacher's union foams at the mouth when they hear the words "standardized tests", "minimum standards", etc.

What really should be enforced it that all students must read at grade level. To allow a student to advance without that absolute minimum is to assure that student's future failure.

But, to correct that would require fixing all too many student careers which are doomed to failure because that student simply CAN'T read the material.

And no matter how good the teacher, or how well written the texts and the tests, if the student can't read them, what's the use?

[AntiGuv]

In other words, he wouldn't want to stake his life on Darwin being right. Neither would I.

Neither would I. But if I did have to stake my life on whether Origin of the Species or Genesis was the more literally accurate, you can bet I'd stake my life on Darwin.