I sometimes hear frustration that there are not more scientist, other than the great Richard Dawkins of course, who are willing to speak out publicly against the attempts to force the religiously based Creationism/Intelligent Design propaganda into our public school science classrooms.
So here is a segment from the great Nova documentary "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial" of a number of scientists explaining the flawed thinking behind Intelligent Design and why it should NEVER be introduced as "science" in a public school classroom.
The Tea Party has put science vs. faith in forefront of the public political dialogue. The issue of the closed mind of taught-belief vs. the open mind of wondering and questioning is standing out in stark relief. Religions are systems of taught-beliefs. People who have unquestioning minds don't go beyond that; questioned they just dig in and insist they're right, without ever really considering any other possibility. But they've come to their conclusions not by real consideration, but by simply accepting the conclusions of others, parents, preachers, whoever.
ReplyDeleteIntelligent people don't allow their minds to confined, closed in a belief box, but continually examine, wonder, question; conclusions are provisional and subject to change with new information or new understanding. (Obama's 'evolution' on gay marriage is a great example of this.)
It's no longer possible to indoctrinate youth in a belief system without literally ohysucakkt confining them...society's diversity is everywhere, the internet exposes them to the entire world's cultures, ways of thinking, regardless what they're taught in school. Only the lazy-minded or those of small minds who need to be "right" will be able to remain self-righteous, prejudiced, judgmental and ignorant all at the same time, able to ignore actual science and the reality of the world they live in.
There's hope.
Jesus Christ, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to We the People and our posterity, does ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America; one nation under GOD.
ReplyDelete(It would have been so easy for our founders to establish this as a Christian country, had they wanted to)
I've never understood, if the "good christians" don't like the science that is being taught by public schools, why they don't all have after-school care? They could teach everything they want with no govt interference and help their working parents.
ReplyDeleteThere is an organization of scientists which is dedicated to "speaking out publicly against the attempts to force the religiously based Creationism/Intelligent Design propaganda into our public school science classrooms"
ReplyDeleteIt's called the National Center for Science Education http://www.ncse.com
They've been doing it for 25 years or so.
I think the tide is finally turning. People are starting to be concerned when they see that the USA is ranking quite low in the world in math, science, technology, etc. Businesses have technical/scientific jobs that they can't fill with U.S. graduates.
ReplyDeleteHere's the facts on our ranking in these areas:
"U.S. high school students match their peers in other nations when it comes to math skills. But ask them to apply those skills to real-world situations and things begin to look a bit bleak, a new study suggests.
"The nation's 15-year-olds make a poor showing on a newly released international test of practical math applications, ranking 24th out of 29 industrialized nations, behind South Korea, Japan and most of Europe. U.S. students' scores were comparable to those in Poland, Hungary and Spain."
http://www.usatoday.com/educate/mathscience/article-math2.htm
More info here: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/a0923110.html
From a 2008 CRS Report to Congress:
"There is growing concern that the United States is not preparing a sufficient number of students, teachers, and practitioners in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A large majority of secondary school students fail to reach proficiency in math and science, and many are taught by teachers lacking adequate subject matter knowledge. When compared to other nations, the math and science achievement of U.S. pupils and the rate of STEM degree attainment appear inconsistent with a nation considered the world leader in scientific innovation. In a recent international assessment of 15-year-old students, the U.S. ranked 28th in math literacy and 24th in science literacy. Moreover, the U.S. ranks 20th among all nations in the proportion of 24-year-olds who earn degrees in natural science or engineering."
If this nation wants to remain competitive (and we are no longer the "world's leader) on the world market; if we want to bring good paying, long term jobs back; then we must ramp up our educational system, and do it in a hurry! We are being left in the dust by China, India, Germany, etc.
Great Comment. We need real education reform or we're doing our kids a huge injustice.
DeleteThe reason more scientists are not speaking out, except as noted above, is they are tired of being set up. They appear on a show with another guest who is a Creationist. The scientist has spent his/her entire life with the subject of biology. The Creationist just knows how to spout the current "line". The host treats these two guests as intellectual and educational equals. There topics are treated as equally valid. How do you carry on a discussion with a Creationist who is rote repeating the party line. The scientists have quit planning the game.
ReplyDeleteThey all laid out the facts perfectly. I especially liked Dr Powell, the last scientist shown, The purpose of Intelligent Design/Creationist is to dismiss out of hand the scientific process and insert their beliefs in an effort to make this country a Theocracy like Iran. Bingo!
ReplyDeleteThe description cites some other great vids and links on the you tube pane.
How many times have we read in comments that "Facts mean nothing"? And it's the fundamental flaw of Intelligent Design (an oxymoron and insult to intelligence).
It's a free country, if they want to teach the fairy tale, do it in your own home or anywhere else but our schools.