Re: If you believe any of your theories, you've turned science into a religion.
- From: "Joe S." <anon@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:05:38 -0500
"Arnold" <Arnold@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dmhhou$ned$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/newyork/nyc-nyinte274529985nov27,0,2696481,print.story?coll=nyc-nynews-print
>
> New twist to old debate
> Intelligent design movement prompts public school science teachers to
> carefully consider approach
> BY ELLEN YAN
>
> November 27, 2005
>
> Even before officials in Kansas and parts of Pennsylvania declared that
> intelligent design could be taught in public school science classes,
> retired Syosset teacher Jack Friedman was coaching middle school science
> teachers on how to address the issue with their students.
>
> "Why not be fair and teach all sides?"
This is not about fairness. It's about fundamental truth.
If we want to be fair, then, in our public schools we should teach:
-- the flat earth claims
-- the man-did-not-land-on-the-moon claims
-- claims that slavery is ordained by God
-- Hitler was right
-- Mao was right
-- the Confederacy was right
-- man-boy love, woman-girl love is just fine
-- and every other wack-a-doodle claim should have equal billing with
scientific knowledge or social norms.
> a few teachers asked. Others argued that intelligent design, which says
> the Earth is so complex that a higher power must have created it, is more
> than religion. The designer doesn't have to be God, they insisted - it
> might be an alien.
So, are we going to show the movie "ET" in science classes as fact? Shit,
why not base our study of the Civil War on "Gone With the Wind."
>
> "They didn't want to step on anybody's religion and have their parents
> come in and get them in trouble," said Friedman, head of the New York
> State Council on Evolution Education, which monitors separation of church
> and state in schools.
>
> Most people don't think New York State is on the verge of facing a major
> movement to reclaim creationism as science. In fact, Friedman's
> organization hasn't been terribly busy in recent years.
>
> But now and then, local public school teachers said, they've responded to
> questions on the issue from students and parents.
>
> The queries can be daunting: "How can you believe in God and be a
> scientist?" or "Didn't God create that?"
>
> The state requires its public school science teachers to explain the
> "mechanisms and patterns" of evolution, covering topics such as gene
> mutations, survival of the fittest and how current species developed from
> "earlier, distinctly different species."
>
> The issue of evolution vs. intelligent design has been in the national
> spotlight since the Kansas Board of Education redefined biology standards
> to allow discussions in the classroom of alternatives to evolution. This
> month, voters in Dover, Pa., threw out eight school board members who
> required teachers to include a statement on intelligent design in class.
>
> In May, New York State Assemb. Daniel Hooker introduced a bill, which
> died, that would have required intelligent design to be taught in public
> schools; Hooker said he wanted to stimulate debate.
>
> Critics say the intelligent design theory is no more than a new spin on
> creationism, a literal reading of the biblical story on the world's
> origins.
>
> Some teachers said they've calmed fears and persuaded parents not to yank
> their kids out of class during evolution lessons by never attacking
> religious beliefs. Some convince doubters by saying it's smart to know the
> "enemy" theories - as one retired city teacher says - and others encourage
> those who are interested to read about intelligent design on their own
> time.
>
> "What I point out to them is that we're not trying to convert them in any
> way, but they should be able to understand the tenets of organic
> evolution," said Brian Vorwald, chairman of the grades 6-12 science
> department for the Sayville school district.
>
> In class, he notes that there are other evolution theories, including
> discredited ones such as the flat Earth school of thinking, and the kids
> laugh when he tells them, "There's absolutely something you're being
> taught this year in science that will be disproven."
>
> Over the years, science teacher John Cunningham has fashioned a weapon of
> sorts for students who fear he will force them to accept evolution,
> counter to the wishes of their parents or religious leaders.
>
> "What you're supposed to do is to attack theories all the time," the
> Brooklyn teacher said he tells them. "If you believe any of your theories,
> you've turned science into a religion.
>
> "You can see the look of relief on their faces and from then on, no matter
> what belief system they're from, they're willing to ask questions and
> posit ideas."
>
> Several local science teachers said they don't object to intelligent
> design or creationism in public schools - in social studies or philosophy
> classes.
>
> For Cunningham, who teaches biology at Brooklyn Tech High School, defining
> the difference between science and religion is crucial to keeping peace
> with the parents and motivating students to work on required evolution
> projects.
>
> "One of the worst things to do to a curious intellect is to say their
> belief is wrong," he said.
So, when a kid tells the teacher that the earth REALLY is flat, the teacher
should say, well, yes, you know, it really is.
>
> "It's pretty helter-skelter right now in terms of trying to pick up the
> difference between science and religion and explaining it adequately in
> the classroom. In religion, you believe in things, and in science, you
> criticize and explore."
>
> Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.
.
- References:
- Prev by Date: Re: When computer geeks start defining time
- Next by Date: Re: If you believe any of your theories, you've turned science into a religion.
- Previous by thread: Re: If you believe any of your theories, you've turned science into a religion.
- Next by thread: Light Polution Filter / Photography question....
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
