TN bill would let God into science classrooms

[marmar]

from the Tennessean:




Most public school science teachers whose students ask whether God created man do what Pamela Sexton does.

"I usually don't go into it … kids will come to a conclusion," she said.

She teaches evolution at Marshall Middle School in Nashville the way the Tennessee Department of Education outlines it for seventh grade — in part through a lesson about the made-up "Geekfeezel" bird. The birds survive the thinning of the ozone layer through evolution, so the Geekfeezels with smaller eyes and camouflage-colored feathers make it because they're the fittest.

The origin of life is left out of the conversation. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110403/NEWS0201/104030365/TN-bill-would-let-God-into-science-classrooms?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

[brooklynite]

1. Let them pass all the laws they want...

The ACLU and FFRF will file lawsuits and Federal legal precedent will say they can't teach religion in science classes.

[NYC Liberal]

2. "kids will come to a conclusion"...um, aren't the schools supposed to be educating?

"Let's just teach a bunch of crap and we'll let the kids figure out what's correct for themselves."

[ixion]

4. education and conclusions are two different things, not unrelated

education (in theory) should give people more tools to draw better conclusions. It's not the job of a teacher to instill these conclusions.

[NYC Liberal]

9. I agree, but there's a correct answer here.

Teaching kids how to learn on their own once they leave the classroom is definitely a major part of education. But the way to do it here is to teach the correct answer and explain why it's correct and how scientists have come to that conclusion.

[ixion]

18. I spent most of my 20's in college. And one of my beefs with western academia is

the idea of 'correctness.' In truth (although just try and get a prof to admit this) 'correct' is relative to our existing knowledge base, and may be changed at any time given the discovery of relevant phenomena or data. Suddenly 'correct' is something altogether different than it was the day before. If there weren't people willing to challenge 'correctness,' we'd still be living in a Flat Earth society.

Humanity's knowledge base spans several thousand years, each discovery building onto or altering the previously-existing foundation. Encouraging (rather than discouraging) people to question what is correct would improve critical thinking skills, something sorely lacking in modern curriculum.

Of course, there must be boundaries. I believe this is what you're referring to. I just wish that educators would take a more enlightened and open view of what is 'correct'.

[Bill McBlueState]

8. that bugs me, too

For example, I wonder if the math teachers take the same approach to binomial expansion. Because the conclusion that (a+b)^2 = a^2 + b^2 is going to be pretty darn popular.

[jberryhill]

23. Well, you see, that would be a good place to start

We SHOULD pass a law making it a^2 + b^2, and be done with the ridiculous complications and nuances that mathematicians have been foisting on it.

I hereby propose the "Distributive Property Of Exponents Act".

[ixion]

3. ultimately this accomplishes two things:

1) Dumbs down the working folks in that state; and,

2) Makes colleges in said state less attractive to people who are interested in actually learning one science or another.

[JoePhilly]

5. Here is the funny part ...

Consider these 2 facts.

1) The right wing wants public school teachers to teach religion in public schools.

2) The right wing hates public schools and public school teachers believing that they are terrible at their jobs.

So they want BAD teachers to teach their kids religion.

:rofl:

[RedCloud]

6. Let evolutionists speak at churches to the sheeple! Equal time!

Game on!

[JoePhilly]

11. My kids are primed and ready to ask the science teacher lots of good

questions.

Starting with this one.

"First, if it takes sperm from a man, and an egg from a woman to make a baby, where did Mary get the sperm needed to make Jesus? Second, if she didn't have sex to get the sperm, does that make Jesus the first test tube baby?"

My kids would go to school with a bunch of these every day.

[rurallib]

7. damnit Joe - you're showing signs of thinking

[Posteritatis]

20. Well, anyone teaching ID/creationism in a science class is ipso facto a bad teacher anyway... (nt)

[Bill McBlueState]

10. "would let God into science classrooms"

Most of the gods I've heard about are perfectly capable of going wherever they want without the help of the TN legislature. Comes with the territory of being omnipotent.

[Ezlivin]

12. Has God come out of the closet yet?

Let's start there....

[GeorgeGist]

13. If there is a God ...

he don't need no stinking bill to get into science classrooms.

[blindpig]

14. but he might not like it there...

questions might be asked......

[pipi_k]

15. Hope he's not expecting a hot lunch... n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

16. We're working on it guys, we're working on it.........

I sent an email out about this bill just yesterday.

[white_wolf]

17. I am too.

I'm tempted to call my local representative.

[jberryhill]

19. Good. I've read his books. He could use some science education /nt

[hayu_lol]

21. The Tennessee legislature has been passing laws to allow...

the teaching of religion(specific)in their schools ever since the Scopes trial. They are at the top of the list of states who continue to push for this. They have, to this point at least, failed to enable religion over science/history but that doesn't mean that they don't get E for effort.

Another group who feels that if you try one approach and the result is failure, then try the same approach again and again until they get their way.

This new effort will be challenged and will fail as usual.

[jberryhill]

22. Oh... I thought they were going to finally get to the root of the problem

And teach God some science.

[PurityOfEssence]

24. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth; I need some SCOPES

Dammit.

[opihimoimoi]

25. The term evolution regarding Human developement consumes importent time lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08zw7jkLZf4&feature=channel

human evolution explained

[walldude]

26. Let em'.

When they apply scientific methods to the study of God they will create more atheists.