Should Evolution and Creationisim be taught in our schools?

[Aimee]

.

[markberwyn]

Teach evolution in science class. Teach intelligent design in social studies as an example of how small, well-organized groups force their thinking, however flawed, upon society at large.

[T-Stan RPCV]

Evolution should be taught in science class - there are many simple hypothsis testing experiments that can be used in the classroom to evaluate the concept of evolution.   This is basic and good science that can promote understanding of scientific methodology at the Jr. High/High School level.

There is almost no doubt that most of the evolution concept has been proven.  However, there are still some gaps that science has yet to fill.  A good teacher should make the student aware of those gaps but NOT offer a theory to fill them.  If asked, a good teacher would indicate that knowlege is also an evolutionary process that is developed over time and we do not have all the answers, but your parents may have some ideas.

ID is a philosophy not grounded in any scientific basis.  It should be kept out of the science room, however, if it may have its place in other subjects, such as philosophy, if the school curriculum includes this type of class.

[Paul Fuentes]

MarkBerwyn:

Your most recent post only makes me wonder what your age might be and if you have children.  Your post not only demonstates an inherent hostllity, but a misinformed opinion as well.  If I would choose to avail to your blather, then I would also request that Soros, MoveOn, Planned Parenthood (What a joke of a organization name.  There is nothng "PLANNED" when your major function is aborting UNPLANNED fetuses). 

As far as who the better organized and funded that seek to impose their will on society, your allies far more qualify for that definition than mine.  That is FACT.  Just do a google search on 527's.

So if you want to make that a part of the curriculumn, I will not only support, BUT FUND your gesture towards a broader education.  You want to go there??  I not only welcome yor suggestion BUT relish it.

What say you?

[jqpublic]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/11/wfsm11.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/09/11/ixworld.html


In recent weeks, a satirical attack  on the teaching of Creationism in
American schools has become the world's fastest growing 'religion'. The
Noodly Saviour looked at the furore He had created and pronounced it
good, writes James Langton

For a growing band of devoted followers, He is the Supreme Being;
creator of the universe and all living things. To the rest of us, the
Flying Spaghetti Monster looks like a giant heap of pasta and meatballs
topped with eyeballs on stalks. As it turns out, both interpretations
are correct.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2005/09/11/wfsm11.jpg

In the past few weeks, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has
become perhaps the world's fastest-growing "religion" and maybe its most
improbable. While no one can be sure of the exact numbers of
"Pastafarians", as acolytes are called, they may number in the millions.

All of which has come as something of a shock to Bobby Henderson, an
unemployed physics graduate from Oregon. According to Mr Henderson, the
FSM - as His Noodliness is sometimes known - "revealed himself to me in
a dream". Like most mysterious prophets, Mr Henderson communicates with
the outside world only occasionally, although this may be more to do
with having only one telephone line to his home in the small town of
Corvallis and a Google e-mail account swamped by hundreds of messages
every day.

Not that he ever saw himself as a rival to Mohammed or Abraham. The
divine inspiration that came to the 25-year-old one night earlier this
year was originally intended as a satire on attempts by some Christian
groups to change the way evolution is taught in science classes in some
American schools.

In particular, Mr Henderson was taking aim at the concept of Intelligent
Design, or ID, which provides a supposedly scientific alternative to the
Old Testament belief that God created the world in six days and nights,
but which dismisses most of the fossil record as false and which relies
on the Earth being far younger than geological evidence shows.

Supporters say the universe is so complex that it can only be the work
of a higher intelligence. They are pushing to have it taught in science
lessons as an alternative to Darwin's theory of natural selection. It
has the support of many leading conservatives, including Senator Bill
Frist, the Senate majority leader, and President Bush, who has said ID
has a place in the classroom "so people can understand what the debate
is all about".

But while the "theory" relies on the existence of a god, it does not
specify which god. It was only when the state of Kansas announced
earlier this year that its schools could teach ID in science classes
that the Flying Spaghetti Monster made Himself widely known.

In an open letter to the Kansas Board of Education in July, Mr Henderson
wrote: "I think we can all agree that it is important for students to
hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory
that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that
students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

"I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the
universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster."

[markberwyn]

What say you?

I say this is less a waste of our time if everybody stays on topic. My point is that the ID camp doesn't practice legtimate science; it's just well-organized and quite skilled at getting heard in school districts. Indeed, the ID folk are proud of that. (Google "wedge strategy.") If you want to gripe about nonprofits you don't like, have at it, but please do it in a different thread.

[LL-Schmidt]

This is about how seriously I personally wish to runinate over the question -- and, who knows, Jon Stewart may have the right answer. . .

TONIGHT: Author of "The Republican War on Science," Chris Mooney! Plus, Ed Helms takes us on an "Evolution Heritage Tour" in Dayton, TN.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart –all this week -Evolution Schmevolution! The Daily Show goes in depth, around, through, and quite possibly under one of the hottest hot-button issues facing our nation: evolution

[LL-Schmidt]

Pardon my spelling error.  I meant "ruminate"

[T-Stan RPCV]

This will be can't miss TV.

For those who don't know Monday through Thursday; 10:00 PM on Comedy Central (249 on direct TV)