Evolution Controversy in Our Schools (NAS chief makes ASSERTIVE statement)

[Viking12]

This letter was sent to Academy members by President Bruce Alberts on March 4, 2005.
Dear Colleagues:

I write to alert you to efforts by the National Academies to confront the increasing challenges to the teaching of evolution in public schools; your help may be needed in your state soon.

On February 7, 2005, Michael Behe, a founder and leading proponent of the Intelligent Design (ID) movement, published a long Op-Ed in the New York Times in response to an editorial that the Times had released the previous week. In that letter, Dr. Behe claimed that some words I wrote support his view that scientific explanations for the evolution of life on the Earth need to be modified to insert the work of an "intelligent designer".

In my response to the Times (see http://www.nas.edu/nas/feb05times-evolution), I pointed out that, while my words are reflected correctly in Behe's column, he completely misrepresents the intent of my statement. This is a common tactic among those who are attempting to introduce religious views of the origins of life into the public schools -- or who are trying to undermine the teaching of evolution because of purported "weaknesses" in the theory.

I write to you now because of a growing threat to the teaching of science through the inclusion of non-scientifically based "alternatives" in science courses throughout the country. A recent article in the Washington Post pointed out that there are challenges to the teaching of evolution in 40 states or local school districts around the country today (for more details, visit the website of the National Center for Science Education, http://ncseweb.org). Major newspapers, magazines, and other media (e.g., Time, Newsweek, MSNBC, National Geographic) have featured major stories about the controversy during the past six months.

Recent tactics to cast doubt on the veracity or robustness of the theory of evolution have included placing disclaimer stickers in the front of high school biology textbooks (Cobb County, GA and Alabama; proposal before the Missouri House of Representatives), mandating or recommending the inclusion of Intelligent Design in high school biology courses (e.g., Dover, PA; Cecil County, MD, respectively); development of statewide lesson plans that encourage students to examine "weaknesses" in the theory of evolution (Ohio), and plans to revisit parts of state science standards that focus on evolution (Kansas State Board of Education). If these challenges have not yet reached where you live or work, they are likely to do so in time.

-more-

http://www4.nationalacademies.org/nas/nashome.nsf/urllinks/NAS-6AQJS4?OpenDocument

[formerrepuke]

1. Does this "controversy" exist in any other country..? It's getting old.

[varun]

3. Not here in India

Teaching evolution is not controversial in any Biology class in schools and colleges here.

[AllegroRondo]

4. And we wonder why Indian students kick our ass on test scores

[Warpy]

2. It's hard to believe these witless jerks are still fighting against

evolution. Evolution is an established fact. The theory of natural selection is the only thing up for debate.

My solution would be for witless religious people who are unable to handle scientific truth to be exempted from all science classes in school. Teach them to read,write, add, and subtract, then make up the difference with courses in basketweaving or something.

Sure, we'd end up with a class of clueless right wing zealots, but that wouldn't be much worse than what we have now, and it might get them out of our hair if their children were allowed to stay ignorant about everything but the 3 Rs. Kick the little dears out of grammar school science classes and let them sit in the library for a couple of hours a week. Won't hurt them, and maybe they'll READ.

People who answer all questions with "god did it" are simply not going to be amenable to any sort of real education, and they'll all want to make damned sure their children are as uneducated as they are. Once they realize that what they've done is limit their childrens' possibility of participating fully in life, maybe they'll change their tune. Maybe not.

[AllegroRondo]

5. Interesting idea you have there

So, some parents dont want their kids learning evolution? Fine, sign here and they can opt out of science class. Why should we let them bring down the level of education for everyone else?

[phantom power]

6. We used to have such a system. It was called "sunday school"

But even the existence of other people, who choose to learn science, was too threatening to them, so they're on a campaign to make sure that nobody can learn it.

[RethugAssKicker]

7. I live in Cobb County, Ga.

This has been my pet peeve for a few years now. This area is also Newt Gingrich and Bob Barr districts.

I do not have any children now in the puclic schools because of the assholes who are now allowing these RW fanatics to dictate the teaching of science courses... I thought this debate was over in the 1930s... but not here in Cobb Cty. It gets me so angry that I cannot even complete this post, I'm just too fucking upset over this whole stupid SHIT!

[Dead_Parrot]

8. Words of prophesy?

"If the self-styled fundamentalists gain thier objective of a political take-over, much of the best of American culture will be suppressed of banned, and we shall be headed backward towards the pall of the dark ages"

Maynard Shipley, 1927, on the Scopes trial.