The Attack on Scientific Truth in Public Schools

[Perhaps]

This is all well and good, and would work if the creationists actually were interested in the scientific method. Most of them only appear interested in peddling their beliefs as truth.

That's an understandable assumption, but that isn't how the bill was presented in the article provided. I think it is important for children to understand the falability of science while recognizing its usefulness in understanding the world around us. By adding religious studies into the curriculum you only further enhance the child's learning. I don't support any kind of one way education. Bias can be devastating to development.

[reverendjeremiah]

This is all well and good, and would work if the creationists actually were interested in the scientific method. Most of them only appear interested in peddling their beliefs as truth.

That's an understandable assumption, but that isn't how the bill was presented in the article provided. I think it is important for children to understand the falability of science while recognizing its usefulness in understanding the world around us. By adding religious studies into the curriculum you only further enhance the child's learning. I don't support any kind of one way education. Bias can be devastating to development.

So you want to water down biology class time (the study of life) with religious discussions?

So one day the kids can focus on plant cells, the next they can discuss what methods Jehovah may have used to create the universe?

Then the next day they can discuss how Allah created the universe..

Then right there every single Christian kid will be yanked out of class, because they arent like you Perhaps, and they only agree with your post only if it gets their (and only their) religion in the door. As soon as some other religion gets presented with equal pomp and circumstance they start snatching up the kids.

Its bad enough that they are allowed to sign their kids out of evolution study....honestly Perhaps...lets be realistic about this. All you are doing wether you know it or not is destroying science education by allowing such a bad idea

[Minimalist]

By adding religious studies into the curriculum you only further enhance the child's learning.

BUT NOT IN A FUCKING SCIENCE CLASS!!!!

Discuss religion in a lit class or philosophy but creationist bullshit is not science and has no place masquerading as science.

[5thHorseman]

Agreed Min, I have no problem with people leaning religious studies, its an important part of history, I have a problem when it appears in science class, it ain't science no matter how some people try dress up their claims.

[Perhaps]

Evolutionary Biology is a very small part of an elementary education to begin with. My 13 year old sister is currently attending a private Christian middle school due to the wants of my parents. Her science education far out matches any public education because even though some aspects such as the beginning of creation are explained supernaturally, the fundamentals of science are still taught such as human biology, plant biology, chemistry, scientific method, etc. there is nothing wrong, in my mind, with allowing alternative views for the beginning of existence so long as each is held to the scientific method. The big bang, possibly the most widely taught theory for existence, is now being re-thought by the world's leading physicists, so why teach it as "fact"? I want the next generation to be open-minded and tolerant. One way teaching doesn't promote that.

[Erinome]

Right. Theories like intelligent design have NO place in a science class. If it were taught as science, we would be teaching children that the earth is less than 10 thousand years old, and that humans walked the earth with dinosaurs. In other words we'd be teaching them lies instead of actual science.

Religious studies are fine if they're done during social studies, and as long as the teachers are covering many different religions. I had a talk with my kids today and told them that if they ever hear a teacher talking about creationism in their classroom when they're supposed to be learning about science, they are to raise their hand and ask to learn about science and evolution. If they are denied, they are to leave the classroom, and ask to call me. I don't care if someone tells my kids about ID, it's stupid, and they're too smart to believe it, but my kids aren't going to sit through that in lieu of actual science in a school paid for by the tax payers (ME).

[Minimalist]

Teach "science" in science classes and let the motherfuckers teach religion in their churches.

I have no patience for xtian ignorance on this point.

[Jackalope]

The big bang, possibly the most widely taught theory for existence, is now being re-thought by the world's leading physicists, so why teach it as "fact"?

Source?

There are controversies over specifics. I'd be quite surprised if there were any serious doubt over inflationary cosmology.

[reverendjeremiah]

If the bible is science, then I argue that the works of Hesiod and homer are science as well. Teach the controversy. Did Zeus create man kind?

Notice how they say things like "teach our kids the weaknesses about evolution." yet if some biology teacher taught the weakness in Christianity they would form a lynch mob foaming at the mouth for her blood.

In other word, perhaps, they do not want cohabitation. They want SUBMISSION. They only talk that "teach the controversy, equal time" crap just to get their foot in the door. Once they get in they start taking over. Surely they will not care for Equal time for hindu's. In fact they will block that as much as possible.

[Erinome]

Evolutionary Biology is a very small part of an elementary education to begin with. My 13 year old sister is currently attending a private Christian middle school due to the wants of my parents. Her science education far out matches any public education because even though some aspects such as the beginning of creation are explained supernaturally, the fundamentals of science are still taught such as human biology, plant biology, chemistry, scientific method, etc. there is nothing wrong, in my mind, with allowing alternative views for the beginning of existence so long as each is held to the scientific method. The big bang, possibly the most widely taught theory for existence, is now being re-thought by the world's leading physicists, so why teach it as "fact"? I want the next generation to be open-minded and tolerant. One way teaching doesn't promote that.

How does a scientific education that includes anything supernatural far outmatch a scientific education that only includes science? I grew up in the bible belt, and went to public schools where I was taught evolution as a part of biology starting in the 4th grade. My son is already talking about dinosaurs in science class, and they're not telling him any bullshit about the dinosaurs existing just a few thousand years ago, so I'm guessing we're not teaching bullshit as reality in school now either.

I'm all for teaching tolerance, but teaching supernatural things as science is absolutely intolerable.