Religion and Science -- Again

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-brand/religion-and-science-agai_b_3677382.html

Richard Brand
Presbyterian Minister

Posted: 08/01/2013 11:19 am

At this time the Kentucky State Board of Education is considering a new curriculum for the state public education of high school students. Officials from 26 states developed new standards for science education. The effort was made in order to make science education more uniform across the country and to encourage the best science education possible. The "Next Generation Science Standards" treat evolution as a fact and attribute human responsibility for climate change.

Kentucky State Board of Education was a part of the group of states that developed the curriculum and public hearings were held recently on adopting the standards for the state. The major opposition to the adoption of these standards came from religious groups. The state board was called Fascist and Communist. The charge was made that the state was trying to make everybody believe the same thing. That is, the preachers claimed, what totalitarian governments do. They adopt a "party line" and make everybody believe it. How dare the state teach a version of creation and origin of life that was contrary to their faith position!

This is an old and fundamental debate. One that this nation is going to be having more and more of in the foreseeable future. Do we let one small group of people prevent society as a whole from teaching what is considered the best science available? Does a minority get to determine what the majority will learn? It is a fundamental debate of democracy and the desire to protect the rights of the minority.

In this particular case do we allow a religious position of some determine the science that will be taught in the public schools? From a pragmatic position, the evidence concerning the Christian faith's track record on science is pretty mixed. At best the evidence from history is that the Christian faith and science have had about an even split.

more at link

[trotsky]

1. I can tell you one thing that certainly doesn't help: burying one's head in the sand.

46% Americans Believe In Creationism According To Latest Gallup Poll

46% of Americans is most certainly NOT "one small group of people." And while they may be just barely a minority of all Americans, once you disregard the non-Christian Americans (of whom very, very few are going to be creationists), you are left with the sobering fact that a slight majority of American Christians are creationists.

In order to solve any problem, ALL the facts must be factored in. Not just the ones we want.

[DreamGypsy]

2. The Next Generation Science Standards have some pretty ambitious goals...

...but I think the approach is reasonable and is necessary to improve the level of scientific ability in the United States.

From the APPENDIX A – Conceptual Shifts in the Next Generation Science Standards (pdf):

“The framework is designed to help realize a vision for education in the sciences and engineering in which students, over multiple years of school, actively engage in scientific and engineering practices and apply crosscutting concepts to deepen their understanding of the core ideas in these fields.

The vision represented in the Framework is new in that students must be engaged at the nexus of the three dimensions:

1. Science and Engineering Practices,
2. Crosscutting Concepts, and
3. Disciplinary Core Ideas.

Currently, most state and district standards express these dimensions as separate entities, leading to their separation in both instruction and assessment. Given the importance of science and engineering in the 21st century, students require a sense of contextual understanding with regard to scientific knowledge, how it is acquired and applied, and how science is connected through a series of concepts that help further our understanding of the world around us.

Student performance expectations have to include a student’s ability to apply a practice to content knowledge. Performance expectations thereby focus on understanding and application as opposed to memorization of facts devoid of context. The Framework goes on to emphasize that:

...learning about science and engineering involves integration of the knowledge of scientific explanations (i.e., content knowledge) and the practices needed to engage in scientific inquiry and engineering design. Thus the framework seeks to illustrate how knowledge and practice must be intertwined in designing learning experiences in K–12 science education.”

This approach is a major shift - teaching not just knowledge and facts about science, but also how science is done, how to do science oneself, and how science is increasingly connected to every facet of our lives.

Good stuff.

Lots more at Next Generation Science Standards.

[cbayer]

4. It looks really good and I am please that KY was involved in the development.

Not surprised that the push back is coming from KY though.

I don't think the christian right is going to win this one and I'm optimistic that this program will move forward despite their kicking and screaming.

[Lordquinton]

3. Wasn't this settled in a court case ages ago?

And the Conservative, W. appointed judge ruled that ID was, in fact, religious based, and therefore did not belong in schools?

Also, the irony of people claiming fascism while trying to get their view implemented as the only one.

[cbayer]

5. Was that possibly at a state level?

I don't remember any federal case, but would be interested if you have more information on it.

The religious right takes these hypocritical stances frequently. When they talk about religious freedom, they are often only talking about their religion, no one else's.

[rexcat]

6. It was a federal case...

but it was limited to that single district except the judge wrote a detailed ruling against ID being taught in the Dover, PA schools that if a similar lawsuit were to occur anywhere else in the US his ruling would probably take precedence. There was a Frontline documentary on PBS about the case and the online information was excellent.

on edit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/intelligent-design-trial.html

United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

[cbayer]

7. Thanks so much for the information, rexcat.

I remember seeing a documentary on similar issues in Texas. Love Frontline and will watch for this.