Evolution is a theory about how every organism was formed. I am amazed that some scientist so adamantly defend evolution as the only possible answer. This contradicts everything about what true science is all about. Scientists are to never accept any idea as the only possible answer. Students should be taught to keep an open mind–to never think there is only one solution to a problem. Instead to embrace the fact that what is known is limited by current technology.
Not every scientist supports evolution. Since evolution generally excludes creation of organisms by God, humanist, who do not believe in God promote evolution. Thus CSCOPE and common core, both educational instruction materials credited to humanist, Linda Darling Hammond. Thus evolution has become the lever for federal grants. Support evolution or the liberal federal will not approve grant money. So our scientists and higher education embrace evolution for $.
Evolution should be viewed as an idea to consider but certainly not an idea to be considered as the only possible answer.Is true research that doesn’t support evolution not considered? This is the same archaic idea that inhibited scientific advancement for about two thousand years when scientists were forced to accept anything Aristotle had said.
Evolution is always associated with Creation by God. Those who support evolution refuse to admit evolution might not be correct. This just might open the door for a full fledged acceptance of creation.
How sad this tunnel visioned idea is. Would it not be more productive to teach kids that some animals have the same basic bone structure and that one idea is that organisms “evolved.” Leave it open ended so that new ideas are encouraged and those of us who give God credit for the creation of all things are not labeled as uneducated and lacking intelligence.
Barbara Cargill is the chairperson of the state board of education. Her testimony was given before the senate education committee about the instructional material called CSCOPE. Barbara’s duty is to see that instructional material approved by TEA are included in instruction materials. Her testimony was factual and her duty to report that CSCOPE does not include creation options other than evolution. Thus CSCOPE is not aligned with the TEKS.
This is a very interesting response, Janice. From reading other posts on this website, it appears that opinions about encouraging kinds to question do not apply to other topics. To see what I mean, take a few sentences from this post, but modify a few words:
“The first step is to start encouraging kids to question ______ and every other _____. This is rigor… My students were allowed to study _______ and decide for themselves if all, any, or none of the theory sounded credible to them.”
Now insert in the blanks other topics about which you consistently fault the CSCOPE system for mispresenting and/or poisoning our students: religion, historical events, political philosophies, to name a few. Why is it appropriate for teachers to encourage students’ questioning — thus creating rigor — concerning evolotion but not other topics in the classroom?
Babara Cargill is right. There IS an alternative to Darwinian Evolution. It’s called Lamarkian Evolution. It IS important, it should *not* be overlooked, and it *should* be taught alongside Darwinism.
I totally agree. The idea of accepting evolution and not being able to disagree with the theory puts science back in when Aristotle’s ideas had to be accepted. Stifled science discovery for about 2000 years. Evolution has become an item on the PC list. I personally am ready to discard the PC list. Who created the list in the first place?
The first step is to start encouraging kids to question evolution and every other science theory. This is rigor. This is encouraging kids to think outside the box. Absolutely no theory is set in stone–if we treat evolution like it is the only truth and anyone who doesn’t believe in it is stupid—OOPS! We are back to the children’s story about the Emperor Clothes. The Emperor was talked into having special clothes made for him. Anyone who could not see the clothes was stupid. Since there were no clothes to see, the Emperor pretended he could see them as well as everyone in his kingdom except for a little girl. During a parade. the Emperor was dressed in his “special clothes” and the little girl said, “Look Mommy, the Emperor doesn’t have on any clothes.”
I don’t believe in Evolution and I am not stupid. My students were allowed to study evolution and decide for themselves if all, any, or none of the theory sounded credible to them. They had the right to question and know that any research they might do in the future may or may not support evolution. Unfortunately, there are groups that adamantly try to force feed evolution to every student. This is a short sighted view and certainly not one that I want taught.