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7th June 2008, 12:40 AM
|  | Princess-Majestrix
42     
 | | Join Date: 9th December 2004 Location: state of mind
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Reps: 74,559,208,991,408 (power: 74,559,209,003) | | | Students need to jump to their own conclusions (about evolution)
In the last week the New York Times and the Hearst newspaper chain, which includes the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, have published major stories detailing the religious right’s anti-science strategy in Texas. Read those stories by clicking here for the New York Times and here for the Houston Chronicle.
The words of biblical creationists on the state board should erase any remaining doubts about the coming battle: The battle is between “two systems of science. . . . You’ve got a creationist system and a naturalist system.”
-- Board chairman Don McLeroy, R-Bryan
"Evolution is not fact. Evolution is a theory and, as such, cannot be proven. Students need to be able to jump to their own conclusions."
-- David Bradley, R-Beaumont
All I want to know is when is it ever a good idea to jump to a conclusion without considering facts especially with something as fact oriented as science.
This is from a Texas Freedom Network newsletter I am subscribed to. They have a Stand Upfor Science Campaign for anyone interested in defending science in public schools. This year science standards are being revised by the aforementioned Creationists on the Texas school board.
In fact, the Stand Up for Science campaign already includes a growing coalition of scientists, business leaders, educators and mainstream activists working to remove the phony “weaknesses” language from state’s public school science standards.
You can help. Take action by doing three things right now: - Sign the Stand Up for Science petition by clicking here. TFN will keep you informed and give you the tools to advocate for sound science education in our public schools.
- Donate to the Texas Freedom Network by clicking here. Your donation will help the Stand Up for Science campaign compete with the massive funding behind far-right groups promoting religious doctrine in public school science classes.
- Forward this e-mail to other supporters of sound science education and encourage them to join this important cause.
With your help, the Texas Freedom Network will lead the fight for sound science in our state’s public schools. The future of our schoolchildren’s education and the economy of this state depend on it. Sincerely, Kathy Miller
President,
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"Consider the lilies is the only commandment I ever obeyed." -- Emily Dickinson
In some respects, science has far surpassed religion in delivering awe. How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, "This is better than we thought! The universe is much bigger than out prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant. God must be even greater than we dreamed"? Instead they say, "No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way." _-Carl Sagan |
7th June 2008, 01:39 AM
|  | Regular Member
 
| | Join Date: 15th December 2007
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Reps: 15,471,429,367 (power: 15,471,435) | | | Why can't this happen somewhere else? Why does it always have to be MY state that is marching proudly into the 15th century? |
7th June 2008, 09:52 AM
| | Princess-Majestrix
42
| | Join Date: 9th December 2004 Location: state of mind
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Reps: 74,559,208,991,408 (power: 74,559,209,003) | | Originally Posted by cheese007  Why can't this happen somewhere else? Why does it always have to be MY state that is marching proudly into the 15th century?
I know I actually voted a republican straight ticket until now. I voted for Gov. Perry, who appointed Don McLeroy to the head of the Texas School Board.
The Rep school board member out here in West Texas I think supports evolution in science classrooms and has a daughter studying the biological science. At least that is what he replied to an email I sent him.
I am moving though.
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"Consider the lilies is the only commandment I ever obeyed." -- Emily Dickinson
In some respects, science has far surpassed religion in delivering awe. How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, "This is better than we thought! The universe is much bigger than out prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant. God must be even greater than we dreamed"? Instead they say, "No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way." _-Carl Sagan |
7th June 2008, 10:25 AM
|  | Senior Member
30 
| | Join Date: 6th March 2007
Posts: 1,923
Blessings: 1,057,586
Reps: 3,978,662,265,867,660 (power: 3,978,662,265,875) | | | Regardless of the various factual issues, why does noone ever stop to consider that academic debates belong in universities and not in high school?
The answer of course is that their pushing an agenda that has nothing to do with education quality. Unfortunately too many people don't stop to figure it out.
__________________
On "illegal" immigration:
"Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..." -The Statue of Liberty
On the alleged connection between Hitler and Atheism:
"For it was by the Will of God that men were made of a certain bodily shape, were given their natures and their faculties." -Hitler, Mein Kampf, Volume II, Chapter X
On gay marriage (or any other discrimination) and the Bible:
"God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." -Paul the Apostle, Acts 10:28 |
7th June 2008, 02:11 PM
|  | Contributor
| | Join Date: 3rd July 2003 Location: Washington state
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9th June 2008, 04:13 PM
| | Senior Veteran
47 
| | Join Date: 12th October 2004 Location: Tallahassee
Posts: 2,985
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Reps: 692,329,274,203,046 (power: 0) | | | As the Times article pointed out, Texas is important because any textbook changes which publishers have to make to accomodate Texas standards will likely affect textbooks used in other states regardless of those states' science standards. Publishers will not want to produce multiple versions of the same textbook.
I cannot bring myself to vote Republican because of the influence religious wackjobs have on the party. And the whole shoot-first foreign policy. |
9th June 2008, 04:42 PM
| | Newbie
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| | Join Date: 15th April 2008
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Blessings: 117,471
Reps: 16,989 (power: 22) | | | D: My state, too!!!!! D:
I'll check out these sites and see what I can do... |
9th June 2008, 04:53 PM
| | Senior Contributor
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| | Join Date: 30th October 2006
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Reps: 3,078,300,513 (power: 0) | | | Texas: (my home btw) We Don't Want Kansas To Be The Only Laughing Stock. |
9th June 2008, 04:54 PM
|  | Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
   
| | Join Date: 9th February 2007 Location: United States of America
Posts: 5,829
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Reps: 2,164,740,823,093,743 (power: 2,164,740,823,105) | | | Remember the jump to conclusions mat in Office Space movie??
Assuming this is discussing high school students - they simply do not have sufficient knowledge to form a conclusion concerning evolution.
Evolution is a university level subject.
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dir="ltr"> I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it.
Terry Pratchett |
9th June 2008, 05:07 PM
|  | Wanderer
| | Join Date: 6th February 2002 Location: Erewhon
Posts: 5,138
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Reps: 242,480,131,836,514,624 (power: 242,480,131,836,531) | | | As I said in another thread --
Homeschool: It's not just for Christians, anymore. | | |
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