The latest ploy of suggesting that some scientific theories need to be analyzed and discussed critically is simply another way for creationists, and intelligent design advocates to enter the realm of science education.
These ploys are actually assaults on the integrity of science and science education.
The Discovery Institute is the organization that is behind this assault. The assault on science and science education has been going on for a long time starting with the Scopes Trial, and then continuing with assault on Rachel Carson’s work on the environment, and the devious and unlawful actions of the tobacco industry’s denial that smoking causes pulmonary damage, heart attack, and cancer.
In science education, teachers have had to deal with topics in the science curriculum that are viewed as controversial including the teaching of evolution, discussions of birth control, theories of the origins of the universe, such as the Big Bang, global warming and climate change. School boards, parents, and politicians have gotten involved in trying to pass rules restricting what and how “controversial” topics are taught, and have lately used the pedagogy of “critical thinking” to make sure that “all” sides of each controversial topic are discussed. Although the teaching of evolution, or I should say creation science/intelligent design was settled by Federal Judge John Jones in the famous Dover, Pennsylvania case when the judge ruled that intelligent design was not science, and had no place in a science class.
In my own view, cases like the Dover intelligent design issue, the Kansas science standards controversy, attempts by legislators and state school boards in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee to legislate the content of the science curriculum to satisfy their own (often religious beliefs) opinions is an assault on the integrity of the teaching profession to make professional decisions on curriculum and pedagogy.
The Law of Evolution
- The Law of Evolution
- God and Science I and II
- Science and Religion: The Faraday Schools
- Creation: A Film about Darwin
Evolution in the States
- Creationism and Intelligent Design Make Stealth Appearances in Louisiana and Tennessee
- Evolution Back in Court in Georgia
- Evolution Stickers Become Extinct in Georgia
- Kansas Reverses Science Standards on Evolution
- Strengths and Weaknesses of Evolution in Texas Science Standards
- Why Do Politicians and Other Elected Officials Spend so much Time Worrying about Evolution?
Dover
- Intelligent Design goes to Court
- The Year that Evolved by Design
- Judge Rules Against Intelligent Design in Biology Classes
- What did the Judge Really Say about Evolution and Intelligent Design
- Closing Argument in Dover, PA Intelligent Design Case
Intelligent Design
- What would Darwin say about Intelligent Design?
- Why ID should not be Taught in Science Class
- The Natural Selector and The Intelligent Designer: A Continuing Debate?
- Using the Phoniness of Intelligent Design to Improve Science Teaching
Teaching Evolution
- If you Teach Evolution you may have to Teach it Critically
- Clergy’s Views on Teaching Evolution
- Teaching Evolution and Creationism
