Texas Mulls How Biology Should Be Taught

Yahoo! News ^ | Thu Sep 11,11:44 AM ET | AP

[SwinneySwitch]

Texas Mulls How Biology Should Be Taught

First teach them how to read and write!

[Noachian]

So, where's the "diversity of opinion" we keep hearing about from liberals? Where's the "tolerence of ideas"?

Seems that there're two standards being used in Biology education: "My way, Or The Highway."

[ECM]

I'd prolly start by teaching them that there are massive, gaping, holes in the 'theory' of evolution that need to be addressed (though the last time this was actually taught as just a theory and not as de facto, err, fact is anyone's guess).

I find it amusing that we can't just say that we don't have any really good idea as to how life started. That would seem to me to be at least as true as any other theory of life's origin.

[Maceman]

Science classes are supposed to teach SCIENCE!

Perhaps there are legitimate scientific reasons to question Darwin, and if so, these should be mentioned. But even if there are scientific flaws in Darwin's theory, that still doesn't change the fact that a literal reading of Genesis is NOT science by any stretch of the imagination, and it should NEVER be taught in a biology class.

Of course, I oppose public education in general. In an ideal world this would be a moot point, since those who didn't want their kids to learn science would be free to send them to schools where it is not taught.

[activationproducts]

Scientists don't stick their noses into theology.

Theologians shouldn't stick their noses into science.

They are two different disciplines (tools used to answer what at times are the same questions).

It's simply a matter of choosing which tool you want to use to answer the question (in this case) "where did we come from?"

Science class is for science. Religion class is for religion. Why can't people figure that part out?

[Millie]

Perfect example of one of the reasons I am homeschooling my eight year old grandson. Highly recommend ABeka Academy material.

[Coeur de Lion]

Why does one have to teach either evolution or creationism as part of a course in biology? One can teach a lot of biology without taking recourse to either.

I don't need to know anything about either to learn cellular biology, taxonomy, anatomy, Linnaeus's classification of species, botany, genetics, biochemistry or how many chambers a frog heart has.

I don't need either to study an ecosystem, photosynthesis, the Krep's cycle, or how the metabolism of ATP is used for energy storage in the cell or how hemoglobin stores blood and why copper based systems are highly inefficient (Sorry, no green blood for advanced organisms).

Students at this level shouldn't be even getting into debates about evolution or creationism. Concentrate on teaching them biology and allow them to make up their minds later

[RightWingNilla]

crevo ping

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[mtbopfuyn]

I don't need to know anything about either to learn cellular biology, taxonomy, anatomy, Linnaeus's classification of species, botany, genetics, biochemistry or how many chambers a frog heart has.

But isn't it nice that your doctor did feel the need to know a bit more than you.

[Scenic Sounds]

FYI

[Central_Floridian]

Well, because they both deal (sometimes) with the same reality and only one (or none) can be true if "scientific" speculation and religious faith contradict each other.

[Central_Floridian]

Are you saying a good doctor needs to know/believe the theory of evolution?

[rmmcdaniell]

So, where's the "diversity of opinion" we keep hearing about from liberals? Where's the "tolerence of ideas"?

Seems that there're two standards being used in Biology education: "My way, Or The Highway."

Yeah dat right man! As a Wiccan I wuz wunderin' when theyed start teechin alchemy and astrology n' stuff. We need alternatives, I wuz hoping that my kid could be taught proper acupunctureing instead of the male-patriarchy imposed, dodge-ball filled physical education.

[Coeur de Lion]

You seem to be making the assumption that I'm not a doctor! Your comment made no reference to the gist of my argument. So you obviously know very little of these subjects.

[Bob J]

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[Dimensio]

I find it amusing that we can't just say that we don't have any really good idea as to how life started.

Funny, that was exactly what I was taught in high school. A few hypothesis were mentioned, but it was stressed that nothing had come to the level of theory regarding life origins. Also, evolution was taught as theory, not fact -- but then, I had a biology teacher who made sure that we understood exactly how science worked and thus we were aware that nothing in science becomes more "certain" than a theory.

[Amelia]

I heard a good one, on NPR no less, yesterday...it was a science teacher's story, but the end line was, "In science class, you learn about how you were made. In church you learn about Who made you."

Works for me.