Posted on 10/10/2006 10:00:04 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
The State Board of Education on Tuesday approved public school curriculum guidelines that support the teaching of evolution in science classes — but not intelligent design.
Intelligent design instruction could be left for other classes in Michigan schools. But it shouldn't have a home in science class, based on the unanimously adopted guidelines.
"The intent of the board needs to be very clear," said board member John Austin, an Ann Arbor Democrat. "Evolution is not under stress. It is not untested science."
Some science groups and the American Civil Liberties Union had worried that state standards would not be strong enough to prevent the discussion of intelligent design as the course expectations developed over the summer.
Intelligent design's proponents hold that living organisms are so complex they must have been created by a higher force rather than evolving from more primitive forms.
Some want science teachers to teach that Darwin's theory of evolution is not a fact and has gaps.
The curriculum expectations are being developed by the state board as Michigan moves toward stricter high school graduation requirements.
Starting with the class graduating in 2011, Michigan students will have to take four years of math and English, three of science and social studies and one each of physical education and arts. They'll also have to complete some type of online experience.
Two credits of foreign language also will be required, but that requirement will be phased in starting with the class of 2016.
Apparently, someone on your side decided that evolution was the only scientific theory easily attacked in the current climate (gravity, the round earth and a heliocentric solar system being politically untouchable at the present moment).
But they are. The idea that evolution explains it all is a religion.
If anyone ever did teach such a stupid thing (evolution explains "it all"??), I'll be the first one to agree with you that they shouldn't be teaching that in school, and that maybe someone is mistaking science for religion.
Until then, you're just frothing.
Evolution IS intelligent design.
Not in the way that the "IDers" want to present "ID", though. They want to present it as Genesis with the "G" word replaced by "designer".
"Not in the way that the "IDers" want to present "ID", though. "
I know. It's all a question of perspective and definition.
Most of evolution does not qualify as a scientific theory. It is a best guess based on the available evidence. Certainly there is a ton of proof for certain aspects of the theory, but there are many many aspects that can never be proven. Gravity is a theory. Evolution is a best guess. That is why the theory of gravity does not change constantly, but the theory of evoultion does.
Actually, there is both a theory of gravity, *and* a law of gravity (e.g. f = G*m1*m2/d^2). The key thing is to not confuse one for the other. The same goes for biology.
Laws describe how things behave, usually in quantitative terms. Theories explain the underlying processes.
Praise the Lord!
The "fellows" at the Discovery Institute are on suicide watch.
You are naive to think they do not. There are many biology teachers who hate religion and believe that religious people can not be biologists. There was one professor who made students deny their religion before he would give them a recommendation. Why do you think the ACLU is involved. They want to weed out any suggestion that evolution can't explain everything.
No it's not.
"Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief or system of thought."
Evolution is not supernatural, nor does it require adherence to some moral code. It is independent of any system of values. Therefore, evolution is not a "religion" despite the attempts of IDers to label it as such with the nefarious intention of having it removed from schools.
You can put a cat in the oven, but that don't make it a "biscuit".
Correct. "Laws" are usually formulas. But even Newton's "Law" of Gravity breaks down at the quantum level.
The point is that the "theory" label does not undermine the validity of evolution.
Yes, I hope our plan to make everyone disbelieve the airtight theory that the world was created in six days. Please don't tell people we put all those fake fossils there painstakingly showing the course of evolution to get Democrats elected in Kansas /sarc
Most of evolution does not qualify as a scientific theory. It is a best guess based on the available evidence.
ROFL!!!! Okay, what anti-evolution propaganda pamphlets have *you* been reading?
This should be amusing -- feel free to support your claim.
Certainly there is a ton of proof for certain aspects of the theory, but there are many many aspects that can never be proven.
Science does not deal in "proof". "Proof" is an unattainable goal in this real world, it's only possible in artificial realms like mathematics. Try again. Read this if you're still unclear on the concept.
Evolution has indeed been validated over and over again, by vast amounts of evidence and vast numbers of matches to its predictions.
Gravity is a theory.
Actually, theories of gravitation are extremely speculative and none have been well supported.
Evolution is a best guess.
Wrong again.
That is why the theory of gravity does not change constantly,
Please state for us the "theory of gravitation". We'll wait. You can win the Nobel Prize if you come up with a good one. Be sure it squares with quantum physics for bonus points.
but the theory of evoultion does.
The theory of evolution changes in its details (but not its foundational principles) because life is a messy affair, affected by millions of factors and at least dozens of intertwined processes. As we learn more about how they interact and which play how much of a role in different situations, the theory of course will be refined to become ever more accurate in the finer details. This is its strength, not a flaw.
Now did you have an actual point to make?
"Keep in mind: according to Christians... God is watching you. Consequently, it's in your interests to answer honestly."
And if you're not a Christian, you can be vague as you'd like to be....geesh.
Christian Baiters....giving the people the feeling that if you beleive in God you're; 1) Living in a Mud Hut and 2) You're too dumb to discern Science.
Thats a nice definition, but supernatural and morals are not included in many definitions. There are many definition of religion that simply state, 'a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.'
"Evolution wins out in Michigan science curriculum debate"
Big time slip here in that truth is out it is evolution that wins not the truth or the children.
But wait! Evolution is the truth! Everyone's a winner! :-)
None, I just think for myself using my own reasoning.
This should be amusing -- feel free to support your claim.
Support what. I am just stating facts. Many aspects of evolution can not be proven. Scientists look at evidence and make their best guesses. Only certain aspects of evolution has actually been observed and tested and can be passed off as theory. Things like the big bang and monkeys evolving into humans are guesses. No one has ever seen this happen.
"But wait! Evolution is the truth! Everyone's a winner! :-)"
Oh really, truth you claim, now evolution is about what exactly... reproduction??? Right??? so basically it is a sex theory???
Ignorance and political correctness masquerading as science. Dilution of the education of core aspects of important scientific theories in a world where scientific knowledge becomes increasingly important. Superstition superseding rational thought. The list goes on.
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