Importance of teaching evolution noted (by Scientific advisers to gov't)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Scientific advisers to the government emphasize in a report the importance of teaching evolution in public schools.

The report by the National Academy of Sciences and its Institute of Medicine follows up on similar past publications, the last of which came out in 1999. The new document includes recently discovered evidence supporting evolution, including an important fossil find.

The report released Thursday also takes swipes at creationism and other anti-evolution views.

~snip~

Evolution is a continuing topic of debate in some states. Florida officials are considering revisions in state science standards that would add the word "evolution" to the standards. The state Board of Education plans to vote on the guidelines next month.

In Texas, the state's director of science curriculum, Chris Comer, maintains she was forced to resign recently due to evolution politics. Comer said she came under pressure after forwarding an e-mail that her superiors felt made the agency appear to be biased against the instruction of intelligent design, an alternative to evolution favored by some religious conservatives


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_go_ot/teaching_evolution

[Avalux]

1. Evolution is science. Intelligent Design is NOT.

Why is this so difficult for people to understand? When I read articles like this I get infuriated.

[progressoid]

2. science schmience

What good is science going to do when you're at the pearly gates? Huh? Mr. or Mrs. smarty pants sciency person!

So there.

[Demeter]

3. Teaching Scientific Theories in Their Latest Form Is Always Preferable

to old-time or even new-time religion, if one is in the business of teaching science.

Why Fundies have a need to try to destroy future crops of US citizens and scientists and engineers and educated people, the ones that will provide food, medical care, and the other life-sustaining products and services, just to satisfy their emotional attachment to fairy tales, has never made any sense.

But then, if one wanted to be sensible, one wouldn't be a Fundie, would one?

[aquart]

4. That anyone feels they have to convince our gov't of this...

Mind boggling.

[central scrutinizer]

5. Let's do a longitudinal study

Everybody who believes in "intelligent design" should only go to doctors whose entire science education and understanding of disease does not include evolution. The rest of us can use doctors of our own choice. I hope they enjoy having leeches applied when they are suffering from the vapors. After a few generations, we can see which group fared better.

[rAVES]

6. Excellent suggestion.

[TrogL]

8. They'd have trouble getting there - no wheels

Following that logic, no biblical literalist would be allowed to drive cars because their tires would have holes in them. According to Kings, a 10" radius wheel should have a 30" circumfurance, leaving a 1" gap for air to leak out.

[Thor_MN]

9. Ah, but in those days, there were no pneumatic tires.

So Pi equaling three was not a problem. Solid tires can't leak and you can make up the slop in the joints between pieces of wood.

See, the portions of the bible to enforce are open to interpretation and they only choose to defend the portions that they can argue. What gives them the right to interpret the words of their omnipotent God is something I've never understood. It's either the literal word of God and not open to interpretation, or it's a collection of stories made up by humans - therfore prone to pushing the agendas of people who wrote and translated it.

Another thing is some of the songs... "Our God is an Awesome God". So there's more than one? I mean if you have to describe your god, that means there must be others... Ominpotence and they choose "Awesome" as an adjective? Why not, "He's, like, totally rad, dude."

[pipoman]

7. My only thought is why is it so f**king important?

Really, I mean why is it so important to dwell on this evolution vs. creation idiocy? Isn't it enough that our kids can't compete with the rest of the world in any area of education? There isn't a single area of important applied science which hinges on belief in evolution that I am aware of, not one. I am just sick of reading these stories.

[MadMaddie]

10. Evolution requires people to actually learn and understand science

the radical religious are not capable of thinking outside of their very tiny and limited box.

Oh well....good for the scientist for trying in 2009 they can present their findings again.

They could come up with actual footage of evolution in process and the dumbasses still wouldn't believe them!