Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: CarolinaGuitarman
When evolution theory is taught in High Schools (or colleges), how is it taught?... Are the errors that have been dealt with -making revisions in the theory- taught, or is some specious pristine and non-assailable theory taught, leading students to believe the theory has not needed the application of what makes the process of science so valuable?

When global warming is to be taught to students, will the ravings of Algore be taught as gospel or will the many means to global warming be taught with an eye to critical thought and scientific method to be applied to the notions?

While it is impossible to teach any scientific theory at the high school level without having human bias inveigling the lessons (High School Science teacheres are more akin to benevolent despots than science saints), it is likely to be more impartial if the focus is kept on the science involved in the formulation and testing of a theory, even the theory of ID which can be taught in a compare and contrast mode. When it comes to religious issues or political issues, such lessons are best left to classes not touted as core science classes, at least below the level of graduate studies for college students ... the lack of sufficient fundamental understanding of the science lends itself to feeding young minds propaganda rather than good science and that's likely to destroy the precious value of science as surely as basing a proof upon false data will.

21 posted on 07/09/2006 7:12:23 AM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies ]


To: MHGinTN
"Are the errors that have been dealt with -making revisions in the theory- taught, or is some specious pristine and non-assailable theory taught, leading students to believe the theory has not needed the application of what makes the process of science so valuable?"

That's a problem not in any way restricted to evolution; all sciences are taught that way. Some history of the development of each science would be helpful, absolutely.
23 posted on 07/09/2006 7:17:33 AM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman (Gas up your tanks!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies ]

To: MHGinTN
When global warming is to be taught to students, will the ravings of Algore be taught as gospel or will the many means to global warming be taught with an eye to critical thought and scientific method to be applied to the notions?

What are those many means to global warming? Are they manmade or exlusively a part of the normal course of nature?

29 posted on 07/09/2006 7:31:40 AM PDT by joesbucks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies ]

To: MHGinTN
When evolution theory is taught in High Schools (or colleges), how is it taught?... Are the errors that have been dealt with -making revisions in the theory- taught, or is some specious pristine and non-assailable theory taught, leading students to believe the theory has not needed the application of what makes the process of science so valuable?

I had a lot of courses in grad school in evolution and related subjects. Two seminars (or three; it was a long time ago) dealt with "problems" in evolution.

Not a one of the things the creationists are always dredging up was included. Rather, the seminars were devoted to theoretical interpretations of data, and how different researchers had different approaches.

You can't teach this kind of thing in high school. Neither the students nor the teachers generally have the background.

44 posted on 07/09/2006 8:20:58 AM PDT by Coyoteman (I love the sound of beta decay in the morning!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson