Intelligent Design? Have You Looked Around, Lately?

By Sarah

Welcome to 2010. Political candidates are talking about witchcraft, the fallacy of evolution and the lust of masturbation? Have we stepped back into the Dark Ages?

Answer: yes.

Consider, if you will, the open house at our high school. All was routine until we got to Sam's world history class and his teacher - a really nice guy we know from our daughter - quickly explained that in teaching everything from the Big Bang and going forward, he provided "alternative theories" to
 
evolution.

Oh, really? And which "alternative theories" are those since, you know, there happen to be quite a few. There was the splitting of the great cosmic egg (Chinese) or Gaea's birth to Uranus (Greek). On and on. Every culture has one, so.....

But this was not a course on comparative cultures. This was history - Global Heritage - in which students examined the migration patterns of the first humans, the pre-agricultural vs. the post agricultural societies. Scientific observation, records, archeology served as the basis for their studies.

So why did this teacher feel pressured to present Creationism as a viable alternative to Evolution? The cosmic egg, which I'm sure many Chinese take just as seriously, got short shift.  And poor Purusha, whose dismembered body produced the sea and sky, was totally ignored.

Alas, the Hindus and Chinese and Ancient Greeks were not supported by the Texas State Board of Education which, as we know all too well, buys a lion's share of the nation's textbooks and therefore inscribes the standards for what must be taught, what might be taught and what must never be spoken of again.

Just last week, that illustrious board reiterated the importance of teaching Creationism and Intelligent Design, not only teacher by teacher, school district by school district, but by book. That's right, history books and science texts will now present Creationism as a "viable alternative theory to evolution."

Look, I don't believe evolution as we understand it is a perfect answer to an incredibly complex phenomenon. And, maybe, there is an intelligent being out there who did orchestrate the minuscule changes that, generation by generation, allowed some species to adapt better to their environments than others. Who knows?

What I do know is that these changes happened. By and by whose hand, I haven't a clue. It might have been God or Zeus or Odin or....No Man. The point is, I don't want the mystical who and why taught in public schools. Leave that to the comparative religions classes. Or church. Or your temple or mosque.

School's only purpose is to impart the facts.

Is this so difficult? 

Now, the Texas Board of Education is ticked off that there's too much Mohammed mentioned in textbooks, not enough Christ.  So, really, people, it's only going to get worse.

Intelligent design? I'm thinking not so much.

Sarah

 

Comments

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

I am teaching college students again - believe me when I tell you that high schools need to be teaching kids to READ before they sweat the details.

Even the ones who read will admit - if pressed - that they have never read an entire book, unless you count "Sh*@# My Dad Says" - and that's only one tweet at a time.

Look - graduated from high school knowing next to nothing from an academic standpoint- but that was my fault for participating in a Master Class for Teenage Socialization.

[Judith Bandsma]

Supposedly educated people who don't realize that in science theory does NOT equal 'wild assed guess'. No matter how much they want it to.

And I'm livid over the removal of Thomas Jefferson from the history books.

[Josh]

My children's Catholic schools were much more forthcoming about teaching religion. But then, my understanding is that Catholic schools in America arose because the public schools were trying to de-Catholicize the Irish and other Catholic immigrants by using more strident methods of teaching Protestant religions than would be openly suggested today.

[William]

I'm getting extremely weary of people making my decisions for me, telling me what is/is not acceptable, and how I should think and what I should think about.

It seems the Big Sin these days is an Open Mind, or listening to those who may disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOdRwD1JF0

"Your rules are beginning to annoy me...."

[Leslie]

Education is not about tests. And it is not about closing your minds to everything that is not told to you by the textbook. At our town school we had a wonderful teacher of English and History for MIddle School. They actually learned how to write and to read and discuss books. They also learned about the religions of the world and how their beliefs shaped their history. We lost her to cancer five years ago and the one who replaced her uses a textbook for reading and History. They read one book for the entire year, slowly. Open mindedness at the school
died with her.

Nothing says intolerance like a closed mind.

[Cornelia Read]

This is just so depressing... arrrrrgh.

[Cyndi]

Well said, Sarah - thanks for sharing! It's too bad those in control aren't listening.

[Alan P.]

A friend shared this with me yesterday, perfect timing!
http://vimeo.com/7090969

There are about 200 nations in the UN. They range from theocracies to purely secular. Creationism has followers in just one. That's right, Italy, Iran, Israel, all of South America, Saudi Arabia, i think even the Taliban all think religion is religion and science is science. We are the only country with such silliness and we have for nearly 100 years now. That's sad. I guess if medical schools started saying to Texas high schoolers, "I'm sorry, you do not have an understanding of the basics of biology, we cannot except you." It would get through their parents brick brains.

Leslie, Minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are open.

[Harley]

Can you hear me screaming, all the way from Los Angeles????

[Laurie]

I agree, Sarah, one hundred percent. It does seem that we're reverting to the dark ages. It's very depressing and frightening.

[Sarah]

I just want to point out that as if Laura Lippman's life already weren't something to aspire toward, her husband just won a MacArthur genius grant.
BTW - this list ought to be forwarded to every teenager as proof of what you can do w/your life besides Yahoo!'s Top 10 careers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/arts/28macarthur.html?hp

[nancy martin]

I am hooked on Yahoo's Top Ten lists. It's so much easier than reading a newspaper. More entertaining, too. Does anything else matter? I mean, I want to look younger, find a fun city to retire to, eat foods that help me live longer. The idea that we might be descended from apes that have no higher thinking abilities seems . . . Oh, wait.

[Holly Gault]

One of the results, chronicled by Jake Halpern in his book, FAME JUNKIES:
Another question asked: “When you grow up, which of the following jobs would you most like to have?” There were five options to chose from and, among girls, the results were as follows: 9.5% chose “the chief of a major company like General Motors”; 9.8% chose “a Navy Seal”; 13.6% chose “a United States Senator”; 23.7% chose “the president of a great university like Harvard or Yale”; and 43.4% chose “the personal assistant to a very famous singer or movie star.”
It’s worth noting: Research psychologists, like Robert Cialdini at Arizona State University, have long suspected that people with low-self esteem are the ones most likely to “bask in the reflected glory” of others. This appears to be true here. For example, among girls who indicated that they received bad grades in school (i.e., C’s or below), the percentage who opted to become assistants rose to 67%. What’s more, among both boys and girls who got bad grades – and who described themselves as being unpopular at school – the percentage who opted to become assistants rose further to 80%.

[Ramona]

If this kind of lunacy keeps up, I think atheism will be the new black.

[Karen in Ohio]

It is so disturbing to me that the religious right seems to be hellbent on hijacking the moral energy of the entire country, to the exclusion of every other kind of thought. It's not bad enough that this country is lagging behind in every field we once dominated: education, engineering, manufacturing, innovation, prosperity, health and did I mention education? Now we seem to be positioned to be dragged back to a third world status, merely to appease a segment of the population. One wonders what possible purpose they want to serve by doing so.

I'm offended that, as a Catholic, albeit non-practicing, I'm not considered a "Christian". What? Who do they think Catholics worship, George Bush? I'm offended at the idea that a particular group of Americans want to "take our country back". What? It's not the nation for all, indivisible, any more? When did that happen, and why didn't the rest of us get a vote on that?

Everyone should remember this single truth about religion: No one really knows, and we won't know until we're dead and beyond caring, anyway. Arguing about religion, as the comic said, is like arguing who has the best imaginary friend. Yeah.

Let the scientists make these decisions. At least they're trained for it. Sheesh.

[Alan P.]

No Karen they think you worship a guy in Rome. Remember, people were afraid "Papists" would overthrow the US Constitution if JFK were elected.

[Alan P.]

Not to hog the space, but my mother reminded me that this is Banned Book Week. Pick a good one.

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm

In 2008 'Citizens Against Pornography' asked the St. Louis County Library to move some titles out of Young Adult and into Adult.

http://theportmans.name/index.php/Alan/Bannning-Books-in-St.-Louis-County.html

[Marcia in OK]

Our Education System is in even worse shape than our Medical Care System!

I guess, in some twisted way, living in Oklahoma (in the middle of the Bible Belt) - the state that is ranked 49 in dollars spent per student and also 49 in teachers' wages - is that it has been while since our textbooks have been updated.

I have two daughters aged 13 and 10. Thankfully, we are making our way through Middle School and Elementary in one of the best school districts in our state. They have required reading leasts per report card period, and they have learned and continue to do basic math skills without a calculator. They still have a focus on problem solving and critical thinking. And, we still have active Music and Art programs that have actual classes during the school day.

Learning violin these last two years has GREATLY improved my older daughters ability to read and work thorugh her dyslexia and comprehension issues. I'm pretty sure it has helped her math skills too. My younger daughter is reading two grade levels ahead, and is anxiously waiting to joing choir in 6th grade.

I am WAY pissed about the whole No Child Left Behind phenomena that has our poor teachers spendig way too much of each semester "teaching to the test".

I do agree that just throwing money at the situation won't fix it. Politics have invaded our education system. And, safety for teachers and students is becoming a bigger issue every minute in all schools.

I will consider myself thankful today. It could be WAY worse for my girls. I have no answers, just a long list of concerns, and stuff we make sure to talk about and work on at home related learning/education, and school in general.

4th grade and 7th grade are way harder the 2nd and 3rd time around.

[judy merrill larsen]

As a former teacher, all I can do is scream. It makes me crazy. Banning books leads to banning thinking leads to a nation I don't want to live in.

Screw self-esteem . . . that's gotta be earned anyway, not just handed out.

Sorry, but this makes me crazy. And incredibly sad.

[Karen in Ohio]

Clearly, those people are ill-informed, Alan.

I can't remember if I mentioned it on this blog or another one, but a couple weeks a go I met a two women in Wisconsin whose book club is reading only banned books this year. I love the subversive nature of that idea, don't you?

More evidence of the dumbing-down of America: banned books. Sigh.

[Karen in Ohio]

From JD "Dusty" Rhoades blog, "What Fresh Hell is This?", today:

From Peter Steinberg: Banned Books Week: 10 'Flashlight Worthy' Books People Most Want Banned:

What does "challenged" mean? It means someone requested the book be removed from their public library because of its "offensive" nature. As if, in this age of hot and cold running internet porn, a child would go to a library and check out a book to be titillated.

[Ramona]

I know I posted this somewhere recently, so if this is a repeat, sorry. My high school librarian friend puts up a display called "These Are Books Some People Don't Want You To Read." Those babies are snapped up like hotcakes.

[Sarah]

Ramona - I love that!

This is how we should market books, especially to kids. The original forbidden fruit = thought.

[lil Gluckstern]

Can anyone explain Christine O'Donnell? "Why aren't monkeys turning into human in front of us?" Terrifying...

[Judith Bandsma]

Evolution: a change in allele frequency over time. Simple, that's all it is.

It's not just books that they want banned. I don't know how many of you saw this, but it's worth repeating...libraries being taken over by FOR PROFIT companies and librarians accused of 'staying in the job for 35 years and not having to work'.
http://tiny.cc/awqku

[Marcia in OK]

Just walked through my local city/county library.

Large sign announcing Banned Book week: Think for yourself and let others do the same!

Picture was a row of robots in back with various aged folks in front - reading banned book list books.

[Marie-Reine]

Faith ≠ Science

[Marie-Reine]

Well, I'm not sure that symbol came out right, so I'll just scream!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!! Even their bible has more than one creation story, including other stories regarding heroes and giants coming to earth impregnating women!

[Marie-Reine]

OK... I'm okay now... pht.

Several of my seminary cohort left divinity school when they realised that even the canon did not support the mythology. They lost their faith, because they had no way to deal with their god having anything to do with science. Those who continued, either had a god who gave the order to science-- or they just didn't give a shit.

[Michael V]

The Texas Board has also mandated a dimished view of Thomas Jefferson as a person who had little to do with the forming of our nation. The reason? Jefferson advocated seperation of church and state.

Pew Research study Aethists know the most about religion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28religion.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=religion%20test&st=cse

[storyteller Mary]

Minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are open.
Alan, I think that should be another TLC bumper sticker. I need more bumpers!
The librarians I know work plenty hard and help us all find the books we want, banned or not.
I did have reluctant readers in my high school language arts classes, but I usually was far more stubborn than they were. Vonnegut won over some of the most reluctant -- and _Of Mice and Men_. Bring me more banned books!

When there were challenges to books in our school libraries and classes, we had big long forms for the parents to fill out and take to the board, pretty much ended those discussions, felt too much like work. One family had a long list of "topics not to be discussed with my child in class." Since my junior high classes often had fairly open-ended, lively and unpredictable discussions, I told the counselors that if I had one of those children in class, I'd seat them by the door with instructions to run to the library whenever we offended. Somehow I never got a child from that family . . . accidentally perhaps?
NCLB (and a particularly evil assistant principal) angered me so much that I wrote "The NCLB Murder" short story as therapy. It's on my Facebook Notes . . . couldn't find a publisher. If anyone ever wants it for an anthology, let me know ;-)

[storyteller Mary]

Banned Book week: Think for yourself and let others do the same!

Love it! I had a "friend" cut off all contact when I replied to an email by saying that I would read _The Golden Compass_ and judge for myself. My niece pointed out that she was not a real friend in that case -- so true.

[Marie-Reine]

Michael V, thanks for posting that link on the religious knowledge survey-- hadn't heard of it. Very interesting! Do you also have one for the "... Texas Board has also mandated a dimished view of Thomas Jefferson"?

[Marie-Reine]

Storyteller Mary- I love The Golden Compass and the others in the series! Wow... who would think we shouldn't read it? Why? Alternate universes? Animals thinking and able to reason? Did your non-friend give a reason? It's hard when friends cut you off... better to know though, and of course your niece is right.

[Nancy Pickard]

I sure wish the Texas Board of Education would evolve fast enough for Christine O'Donnell to be able to see them do it.

[gaylin in vancouver]

My favourite banned author - Chris Crutcher. Deadline is a wonderful book.

I actually don't know of many books that are banned in Canada. I know there was a big furor a few years ago when a few parents tried to have a book banned, I can't remember the exact title but it was about a kid having 2 dads.

[Karen in Ohio]

LOL, Nancy!

[Marie-Reine]

Nancy! LMAO!

[Kerry]

Oh, Nancy P. -- you just made my day :)

[Nora]

Judith...read the article yesterday...a little terrifying, isn't it? Harley...stop screaming. You're gonna dehydrate! We aren't teaching kids to think or discuss things. In my town it's all about teaching to the test...nothing about different learning stylesor how to discuss or debate...just PC stuff.. It's really sad. The kids are the losers here. Books and theories will not hurt you!!It's a great lesson to practice thinking, processing and weeding out the ridiculous...let them think!!

[Laura Libricz]

I think I just saw this on an episode of the Simpsons: Creation vs. Evolution. I guess we were brought up different. I remember hearing a saying somewhere, 'separation of church and state'. So I looked it up in Wiki to see what that was. Is that what you mean that they took Th Jefferson out of the history books?

In Germany the kids have religion from 1st until 12th. They can go in Lutheran or Catholic, if they are one of the above. If not they go in Ethics and learn about world religions. And there it stays. Today.

[Nike Dunk Low]

Thank you for this useful information. My brother had scabies earlier this summer, and I made sure to keep my distance. No one...went near him for a while. But hey, that's what he gets. For getting scabies.