Tennessee passes anti-science theory, and our students can't read

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

So they just skipped the "evolution" part?

Sounds very Socratic, "problem-based learning"- you're lucky, no they don't do that much at all!

I learned about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution, it was touched upon not studied.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

I learned about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution, it was touched upon not studied.

When I talk to my Catholic friends, there was never (years ago) any problem "teaching science" and "teaching religion" - they were separate but equal.

Now, down here in evangelical land, it's a far different than the city Catholics of my youth. For some reason, you have to deny all rational science to be a "good" religious person. It's crazy.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

When I talk to my Catholic friends, there was never (years ago) any problem "teaching science" and "teaching religion" - they were separate but equal.

Now, down here in evangelical land, it's a far different than the city Catholics of my youth. For some reason, you have to deny all rational science to be a "good" religious person. It's crazy.

I dont believe in organized religion no matter what denomination. I liked the school I went to and I loved my teachers. I dont feel like I missed out on anything.

[GenuineRisk]

The problem with schools not teaching proper science is that students are not taught how to think critically.

Science is not about what's true; it's about what's observable and what's testable. It's a method of learning. That's what's really frustrating about the whole "Why shouldn't Intelligent Design be taught in Science?" Because, even should it turn out to be true that we're all created by some higher power, Intelligent Design is not testable using the Scientific Method, and therefore, is not Science. There may be set rules about the proper usage of semi-colons, but they don't belong in Math class. Likewise, ID does not belong in Science class. Evolutionary theory, which is observable and testable, does belong.

Of course, I often think our assorted Federal, State and Local governments would prefer that schools not produce students who can think critically, because critical thinking can apply to a lot more than Science.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

The problem with schools not teaching proper science is that students are not taught how to think critically.

Science is not about what's true; it's about what's observable and what's testable. It's a method of learning. That's what's really frustrating about the whole "Why shouldn't Intelligent Design be taught in Science?" Because, even should it turn out to be true that we're all created by some higher power, Intelligent Design is not testable using the Scientific Method, and therefore, is not Science. There may be set rules about the proper usage of semi-colons, but they don't belong in Math class. Likewise, ID does not belong in Science class. Evolutionary theory, which is observable and testable, does belong.

Of course, I often think our assorted Federal, State and Local governments would prefer that schools not produce students who can think critically, because critical thinking can apply to a lot more than Science.

[Riot]

A sample high school level reading assessement test (warning if you have slow internet speed, clicking on link will open a short PDF file)

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...oBZtbWE1cbS7LQ

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

The problem with schools not teaching proper science is that students are not taught how to think critically.

Science is not about what's true; it's about what's observable and what's testable. It's a method of learning. That's what's really frustrating about the whole "Why shouldn't Intelligent Design be taught in Science?" Because, even should it turn out to be true that we're all created by some higher power, Intelligent Design is not testable using the Scientific Method, and therefore, is not Science. There may be set rules about the proper usage of semi-colons, but they don't belong in Math class. Likewise, ID does not belong in Science class. Evolutionary theory, which is observable and testable, does belong.

Of course, I often think our assorted Federal, State and Local governments would prefer that schools not produce students who can think critically, because critical thinking can apply to a lot more than Science.

ding ding ding


if you look at history, the people in charge have always tried to keep the unwashed masses uneducated. look at the church for centuries (they fought tooth and nail to keep the bible from being printed in the native tongue, even tho many of their own priests only knew the latin they memorized to say mass), look at the moves by many in other countries to prevent girls from going to school...after all, if you keep the women stupid, that keeps half the population under foot right off the bat.


my kids went to public school. all are very educated and very smart. but i did my part to continue their education, providing books and other tools to fill in the blanks where school left off. not sure how much the school taught evolution(i'd wager not much!), but my kids certainly learned about it!