Suppression of criticisms of evolution backfires
The Darwinists are crowing over their little "victory" in the Kitzmiller case, but the ironic truth is that suppression of criticisms of evolution in schools undermines evolution education and science education in general. The courts have not only banned the actual teaching of criticisms of evolution, but in some decisions -- the well-known Kitzmiller v. Dover case, the lesser-known Selman v. Cobb County case, and the poorly-known Freiler v. Tangipahoa Parish case -- have even banned brief evolution-disclaimer statements in schools.
For the following reasons, I support the teaching of evolution in all schools:
(1) Evolution theory has long been widely accepted in the scientific community. Knowing something about evolution theory is part of being a well-educated person.
(2) A knowledge of evolution theory helps biologists understand scientific papers and modern cladistic taxonomy. On the other hand, I strongly disagree with the shopworn slogan that "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
However, suppression of criticism of evolution has the following deleterious effects:
(1) When the courts prevent schools from compromising among different groups by teaching or mentioning opposition to evolution in addition to teaching evolution, then schools often compromise in the only way they can -- by teaching little or nothing about evolution.
(2) Lack of candor about the weaknesses of evolution theory undermines student interest and trust in science.
For the following reasons, I support the teaching of evolution in all schools:
(1) Evolution theory has long been widely accepted in the scientific community. Knowing something about evolution theory is part of being a well-educated person.
(2) A knowledge of evolution theory helps biologists understand scientific papers and modern cladistic taxonomy. On the other hand, I strongly disagree with the shopworn slogan that "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
However, suppression of criticism of evolution has the following deleterious effects:
(1) When the courts prevent schools from compromising among different groups by teaching or mentioning opposition to evolution in addition to teaching evolution, then schools often compromise in the only way they can -- by teaching little or nothing about evolution.
(2) Lack of candor about the weaknesses of evolution theory undermines student interest and trust in science.
Labels: Evolution controversy (3 of 4)
posted by Larry Fafarman | 10/05/2006 03:48:00 PM
4 Comments:
> When schools are not allowed to teach or even mention criticisms of evolution, then the schools tend to teach little or nothing about evolution. <
Another unsupported statement pulled out of your well beaten posterior.
> Lack of candor about the weaknesses of evolution theory undermines student interest and trust in science. <
The students are generally bright enough to know that there are a large number of people who want to push ID and other superstitions off as science.
>>>>> When schools are not allowed to teach or even mention criticisms of evolution, then the schools tend to teach little or nothing about evolution. <
Another unsupported statement <<<<<<
For the benefit of the clueless, I have replaced the above statement with the following:
When the courts prevent schools from compromising among different groups by teaching or mentioning opposition to evolution in addition to teaching evolution, then schools often compromise in the only way they can -- by teaching little or nothing about evolution.
The defense attorney in the Cobb County case pointed out that the evolution-disclaimer textbook stickers were actually sort of like part of a compromise package deal that included a great expansion in evolution education:
Cobb County appealed and was represented by Ernest Linwood Gunn IV, who opened arguments by directly assailing Cooper's ruling that religion was entangled with the stickers.
He pointed out that, under the county's old curriculum, Cobb barred courses teaching evolution in elementary and middle schools and allowed them only as electives in high school. Thus, he argued, the school board actually had taken pro-evolution action by using a new textbook that taught evolution.
"If they wanted to restrict the teaching of evolution, they would have done nothing," said Gunn.
What happened in Cobb County as well as Dover is that there were compromises between both sides and then the judges pulled the rugs out from under the anti-Darwinists while the Darwinists got to keep their sides of the compromises.
>>>>> Lack of candor about the weaknesses of evolution theory undermines student interest and trust in science. <
The students are generally bright enough to know that there are a large number of people who want to push ID and other superstitions off as science. <<<<<
Many students are generally bright enough to recognize evolution's weaknesses themselves, so it does no good to have teachers pretend that there aren't any weaknesses.
Instead of expressing their rebelliousness by shooting people, I wish that today's students would express it by protesting bans on teaching about weaknesses of evolution.
> For the benefit of the clueless, <
You would it benefit you?
Why don't you use actual terms rather than euphemisms? For example "anti-Darwinists" refers to the religious fundamentalist nut cases while "Darwinists" refers to those creationists who would prefer that science be taught in science classes.
Perhaps a compromise could be that ID and other forms of creationism could be taught in a mythology class to keep students aware of their true nature.
> Instead of expressing their rebelliousness by shooting people, I wish that today's students would express it by protesting bans on teaching about weaknesses of evolution. <
Replace one sort of madness with another?
You have never answered whether the form of ID in which you believe is an outgrowth of your belief that the Los Angeles Times is created and distributed by supernatural forces. I see that the editor was just replaced. Is this just a smoke screen?
< I see that the editor was just replaced. >
Abducted perhaps? ;-)
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