Do you make the same demands of the atomic theory of matter? In all seriousness, I can think of much more serious "holes" in that theory than exist in the theory of evolution.
Evolutionary theory does change as more research is done, and what was being taught as fact a few years ago is not considered accurate now.
Be honest: the features of evolutionary theory to which the school board members object have not changed at all since Darwin.
Whatever changes in thinking have occurred (which by the way is a sign of health and not of a problem in a scientific discipline), they have not overturned the core ideas. And yet all of this ginned-up controversy has only a single goal: to manufacture public distrust in those core ideas.
If this school board is merely asking for a more critical assessment of this issue, that's surely a good thing. We need scientists who think rather than parrot repeat.
First, how do you reconcile the accusation that scientists "parrot repeat" the theory with your earlier assertion that evolutionary theory is changing?
Second, the school board is not responsible for setting scientists straight, but for educating children. And it does them a disservice to teach them that an unusual scientific controversy exists in the field of evolution, when in reality it is one of the most firmly established and intellectually unassailable ideas in science.
Do you make the same demands of the atomic theory of matter? In all seriousness, I can think of much more serious "holes" in that theory than exist in the theory of evolution.
No, but then that theory is testable now, whereas evolution, having taken place, is a past event, which is not so easily repeatable.
Be honest: the features of evolutionary theory to which the school board members object have not changed at all since Darwin.
I wouldnt really know, and wouldnt presume to know, what they are thinking of.
Whatever changes in thinking have occurred (which by the way is a sign of health and not of a problem in a scientific discipline), they have not overturned the core ideas. And yet all of this ginned-up controversy has only a single goal: to manufacture public distrust in those core ideas.
I agree wholeheartedly that the changes in thinking are a sign of health, however, as you then go on to state - they have not overturned the core ideas. Is tht because the core ideas are unassailably correct, or just that no-one dares to challenge them?
As for your comments on the "ginned up controversy", the implication that is being done purely to manufacture public distrust is pure speculation on your part. There are any number of reasons why people are concerned about this issue, some valid and some (no doubt) very suspect.
First, how do you reconcile the accusation that scientists "parrot repeat" the theory with your earlier assertion that evolutionary theory is changing?
Simple. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I very carefully did not do that. Im just pointing out that in general I want scientists to be objective and free to consider all possibilities.
Second, the school board is not responsible for setting scientists straight, but for educating children. And it does them a disservice to teach them that an unusual scientific controversy exists in the field of evolution, when in reality it is one of the most firmly established and intellectually unassailable ideas in science.
True, their duty is to educate...but they have to know what to teach. Is it doing them a disservice? Im not so sure. Considering that this discussion is going on, this is obviously a controversial topic that they are certainly going to need to be aware of in life.
>>Do you make the same demands of the atomic theory of matter?
Atomic experiments are repeatable, one of the basic proofs of Science is performing experiments to confirm a hypothesis by independent scientists.
For in introduction to the scientific method, see: http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html
IMHO: It is ignorant for anyone to insist that a theory be accepted as fact without being able to reproduce it, regardless of what alternative is being presented.