Intelligent design now mandatory learning in Kansas classrooms - Dallas Dance Music - Dallas nightlife, music, tickets, and more

Keith P · 11-08-05, 07:39 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/11....ap/index.html

New standards question accuracy of evolutionary theory

Tuesday, November 8, 2005; Posted: 7:05 p.m. EST (00:05 GMT)

TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) -- At the risk of re-igniting the same heated nationwide debate it sparked six years ago, the Kansas Board of Education approved new public school science standards Tuesday that cast doubt on the theory of evolution.

The 6-4 vote was a victory for "intelligent design" advocates who helped draft the standards. Intelligent design holds that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.

Critics of the language charged that it was an attempt to inject God and creationism into public schools in violation of the separation of church and state.

All six of those who voted for the standards were Republicans. Two Republicans and two Democrats voted against them.

"This is a sad day. We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world, and I hate that," said board member Janet Waugh, a Kansas City Democrat.

Supporters of the standards said they will promote academic freedom. "It gets rid of a lot of dogma that's being taught in the classroom today," said board member John Bacon, an Olathe Republican.

The standards state that high school students must understand major evolutionary concepts. But they also declare that some concepts have been challenged in recent years by fossil evidence and molecular biology.

The challenged concepts cited include the basic Darwinian theory that all life had a common origin and the theory that natural chemical processes created the building blocks of life.

In addition, the board rewrote the definition of science, so that it is no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena.

The standards will be used to develop student tests measuring how well schools teach science. Decisions about what is taught in classrooms will remain with 300 local school boards, but some educators fear pressure will increase in some communities to teach less about evolution or more about intelligent design. (Read how Kansas came to this point)

The vote marked the third time in six years that the Kansas board has rewritten standards with evolution as the central issue.

In 1999, the board eliminated most references to evolution, a move Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould said was akin to teaching "American history without Lincoln."

Two years later, after voters replaced three members, the board reverted to evolution-friendly standards. Elections in 2002 and 2004 changed the board's composition again, making it more conservative.

Many scientists and other critics contend creationists repackaged old ideas in scientific-sounding language to get around a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1987 that banned teaching the biblical story of creation in public schools.

The Kansas board's action is part of a national debate. In Pennsylvania, a judge is expected to rule soon in a lawsuit against the Dover school board's policy of requiring high school students to learn about intelligent design in biology class. (Read about the Dover debate)

In August, President Bush endorsed teaching intelligent design alongside evolution.

willy_jack · 11-08-05, 07:59 PM

kansas is so fucking stupid...

it just sounds so bland... kansas.. say it with me... kansas.,.

if i was dorthy ida preferred oz.

Keith P · 11-08-05, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willy_jack

kansas is so fucking stupid...

it just sounds so bland... kansas.. say it with me... kansas.,.

if i was dorthy ida preferred oz.

I got in a wreck driving through Kansas. It seemed a pretty useless place to me.

Ryan · 11-08-05, 08:49 PM

I'm OK with this, as long as they tell the students "this is something that is culturally significant, is something that many people believe, and has no basis in fact or science." I think it belongs in a sociology class more than a science class.

Keith P · 11-08-05, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

I'm OK with this, as long as they tell the students "this is something that is culturally significant, is something that many people believe, and has no basis in fact or science." I think it belongs in a sociology class more than a science class.

I'd have no quarms with it being taught in sociology.

Hey Bubu · 11-09-05, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

I'm OK with this, as long as they tell the students "this is something that is culturally significant, is something that many people believe, and has no basis in fact or science." I think it belongs in a sociology class more than a science class.

I'd be down if it were presented that way, now I do wonder how kids are going to react to this. They are not that stupid...

question · 11-09-05, 09:55 AM

Another Stitch For The Fabric!

PETA · 11-09-05, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P

I got in a wreck driving through Kansas. It seemed a pretty useless place to me.

Unless you like to eat I guess.

PETA · 11-09-05, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

I'm OK with this, as long as they tell the students "this is something that is culturally significant, is something that many people believe, and has no basis in fact or science." I think it belongs in a sociology class more than a science class.

I'd see no problem with that. (Or other related course - anthropology, religions, a review of the history of science [which is filled with non-scientific theories] etc etc)

However, my objection would be the State legislature stepping in and telling local school boards what the curriculum will consist of.... that's the job of the School Board - its overstepping by the State... that shit bugs me

Dionysos · 11-09-05, 10:06 AM

Unfortunately, Kansas won't mention that there is no scientific basis for ID, thus kids are going to take this metaphysical nonsense as scientific fact.

Ryan · 11-09-05, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xian

I'd see no problem with that. (Or other related course - anthropology, religions, a review of the history of science [which is filled with non-scientific theories] etc etc)

However, my objection would be the State legislature stepping in and telling local school boards what the curriculum will consist of.... that's the job of the School Board - its overstepping by the State... that shit bugs me

I agree. I also think we ought to be discussing religion in school much more than we do, because it influences our lives, our culture, and our politics significantly. Having in-depth discussions on the major religions would give students a much greater insight into why things are like they are. The tricky part is having the discussion without inserting personal religious beliefs.

Hey Bubu · 11-09-05, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dionysos

Unfortunately, Kansas won't mention that there is no scientific basis for ID, thus kids are going to take this metaphysical nonsense as scientific fact.

Guess that all depends on how young the kids are.

Dionysos · 11-09-05, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeH

Guess that all depends on how young the kids are.

The vast majority of kids at any age - or adults for that matter - tend to believe most anything you tell them if you present it in a scientific setting. Discussion of ID should be relegated to philosophy class, not biology.

Hey Bubu · 11-09-05, 10:34 AM

Perhaps I'm giving the avg joe a little too much credit on the whole "think for yourself" bit.

Ash · 11-09-05, 10:35 AM

Kansas and Texas should marry each other. Hell, throw in Oklahoma too and make it an inbred threesome.

11-08-05, 07:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Keith P Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dallas Posts: 11,123	Intelligent design now mandatory learning in Kansas classrooms http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/11....ap/index.html New standards question accuracy of evolutionary theory Tuesday, November 8, 2005; Posted: 7:05 p.m. EST (00:05 GMT) TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) -- At the risk of re-igniting the same heated nationwide debate it sparked six years ago, the Kansas Board of Education approved new public school science standards Tuesday that cast doubt on the theory of evolution. The 6-4 vote was a victory for "intelligent design" advocates who helped draft the standards. Intelligent design holds that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power. Critics of the language charged that it was an attempt to inject God and creationism into public schools in violation of the separation of church and state. All six of those who voted for the standards were Republicans. Two Republicans and two Democrats voted against them. "This is a sad day. We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world, and I hate that," said board member Janet Waugh, a Kansas City Democrat. Supporters of the standards said they will promote academic freedom. "It gets rid of a lot of dogma that's being taught in the classroom today," said board member John Bacon, an Olathe Republican. The standards state that high school students must understand major evolutionary concepts. But they also declare that some concepts have been challenged in recent years by fossil evidence and molecular biology. The challenged concepts cited include the basic Darwinian theory that all life had a common origin and the theory that natural chemical processes created the building blocks of life. In addition, the board rewrote the definition of science, so that it is no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena. The standards will be used to develop student tests measuring how well schools teach science. Decisions about what is taught in classrooms will remain with 300 local school boards, but some educators fear pressure will increase in some communities to teach less about evolution or more about intelligent design. (Read how Kansas came to this point) The vote marked the third time in six years that the Kansas board has rewritten standards with evolution as the central issue. In 1999, the board eliminated most references to evolution, a move Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould said was akin to teaching "American history without Lincoln." Two years later, after voters replaced three members, the board reverted to evolution-friendly standards. Elections in 2002 and 2004 changed the board's composition again, making it more conservative. Many scientists and other critics contend creationists repackaged old ideas in scientific-sounding language to get around a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1987 that banned teaching the biblical story of creation in public schools. The Kansas board's action is part of a national debate. In Pennsylvania, a judge is expected to rule soon in a lawsuit against the Dover school board's policy of requiring high school students to learn about intelligent design in biology class. (Read about the Dover debate) In August, President Bush endorsed teaching intelligent design alongside evolution. __________________ http://www.deadandre-buried.blogpost.com http://www.brokenteeth.org http://www.unitoneonline.com http://www.myspace.com/keithvip

11-09-05, 09:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
question Foolish Bastard Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Downtown Posts: 5,321	Another Stitch For The Fabric! __________________ True, without falsehood, certain and most true, that which is above is the same as that which is below, and that which is below is the same as that which is above, for the performance of miracles of the One Thing. And as all things are from the One, by the meditation of One, so all things have their birth from this One Thing by adaptation.

11-09-05, 10:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
Hey Bubu Funky Spunk Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: take a left at the cow Posts: 17,124	Perhaps I'm giving the avg joe a little too much credit on the whole "think for yourself" bit. __________________ "We're so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it's all about." --Joseph Campbell,

11-09-05, 10:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ash Was up above it. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: L.A., New York, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Forney Posts: 27,034	Kansas and Texas should marry each other. Hell, throw in Oklahoma too and make it an inbred threesome. __________________ My milk snake brings all the girls to the yard.

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11-08-05, 07:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
willy_jack Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: in my head Posts: 3,090	kansas is so fucking stupid... it just sounds so bland... kansas.. say it with me... kansas.,. if i was dorthy ida preferred oz.

11-08-05, 08:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ryan Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,783	I'm OK with this, as long as they tell the students "this is something that is culturally significant, is something that many people believe, and has no basis in fact or science." I think it belongs in a sociology class more than a science class.

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