[extropy-chat] Creationism in Science Class -- What an opportunity!

[Jef Allbright]

An item in the LA Times today reports the following:

    Creationism in Science Class Angers Educators

    GRANTSBURG, Wis. — The city's school board has revised its science
    curriculum to allow the teaching of creationism, prompting an outcry
    from more than 300 educators who urged that the decision be reversed.

    School board members decided that a state law governing the teaching
    of evolution was too restrictive. The science curriculum "should not
    be totally inclusive of just one scientific theory," said Joni
    Burgin, superintendent of the district of 1,000 students in
    northwest Wisconsin.


As I read this I thought, "Here we go, further erosion of scientific 
teaching in our schools. Maybe gaining momentum with the recent 
political gains of the religious right."

And then with growing realization, "What an opportunity!"

What an opportunity to stimulate discussion and rational thinking via 
comparison in the classroom of evolutionary theory and creationist 
thinking! Those of us who are passionate about opportunities for open 
discussion of rational thinking and a scientific approach to knowledge 
should welcome this whole-heartedly and hope that it continues to spread 
widely and long enough to be effective.

Why is this a good thing?

    * Greater awareness naturally tends to greater rationality.
    * Greater awareness among wider populations tends to accelerate the
      process of increasing rationality.


It's natural selection, part of the evolutionary process at question 
here. Ironic, isn't it? Let's promote it, and let it grow.

I'm not so naive as to disregard the concern of these teachers and 
administrators that this looks like a political step backward in the 
contest between science and fundamentalism. But in the bigger picture, 
it's a pragmatic plus.

As to the concern expressed by teachers that this will increase 
confusion among some of the students, I hope they can see that true 
teaching embraces confusion as one of the early steps toward greater 
understanding. To withhold potentially confusing information in the 
process of education is to shirk one's duty as an educator, and to play 
the game of transmitting only the revealed truth of one side or the other.

I'm also aware that many teachers suffer under limitations of time and 
resources and feel that this is just one more imposition on their time 
by an administration that doesn't understand their needs. But for those 
inspired teachers who look beyond their lesson plans and see their 
mission as one of planting seeds of knowledge to grow and flourish in 
the minds of our children, this is the time to perform a masterful judo 
move and direct the oncoming momentum in a very desirable direction.

- Jef
http://www.jefallbright.net/node/view/2921

---------------------------------------------------------------

<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-creationism7nov07.story>

Creationism in Science Class Angers Educators

GRANTSBURG, Wis. — The city's school board has revised its science 
curriculum to allow the teaching of creationism, prompting an outcry 
from more than 300 educators who urged that the decision be reversed.

School board members decided that a state law governing the teaching of 
evolution was too restrictive. The science curriculum "should not be 
totally inclusive of just one scientific theory," said Joni Burgin, 
superintendent of the district of 1,000 students in northwest Wisconsin.

Last month, when the board examined its science curriculum, language was 
added calling for "various models/theories" of origin to be incorporated.

The decision provoked more than 300 biology and religious studies 
faculty members to write a letter last week urging the board to reverse 
the policy. It follows a letter from 43 deans at Wisconsin public 
universities.

"Insisting that teachers teach alternative theories of origin in biology 
classes takes time away from real learning, confuses some students and 
is a misuse of limited class time and public funds," said Don Waller, a 
botanist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Wisconsin law mandates that evolution be taught, but school districts 
are free to create their own curricular standards, said Joe Donovan of 
the state Department of Public Instruction.

There have been scattered efforts for other boards to adopt similar 
measures. Last month the Dover Area School Board in Pennsylvania voted 
to require the teaching of alternative theories to evolution, including 
"intelligent design" — the idea that life is too complex to have 
developed without a creator.

In 1999, the state education board in Kansas deleted most references to 
evolution. The decision was reversed in 2001.

In March, the Ohio Board of Education narrowly approved a lesson plan 
that some critics contended opens the door to teaching creationism.