Teaching evolution in a climate of science denial, Part 1

What challenges do biology teachers face from creationists? How do you respond to students asking the "10 questions"? What are the different flavors of creationist belief? NCSE programs and policy director Steve Newton explores this and other issues before an audience of high school teachers from across the country. Where: UC Berkeley. When: 8/5/2011

Category:

Education

Tags:

• NCSE
• Steve Newton
• teaching evolution
• high school biology
• evolution
• creationism
• intelligent design
• science denial

[tcsam9202]

This presentation makes me realize how lucky I was. 20 years ago I had a biology class where the teacher not only taught evolution and taught it well. To this day I have to thank my old biology teacher for my understanding of the evolutionary process because he stressed critical thinking skills. Hard to believe I went to school in Kansas.

[NatCen4ScienceEd]

@tcsam9202 the good news is that in every state with anti-evolution issues, there are many more people who strongly support science and many teachers who work hard to bring the joys of learning science and evolution to their pupils. remember, although some members of the Kansas State School Board drew a lot of attention in 2005 with its "evolution hearings," voters reacted and removed those board members. Kansas Citizens for Science is still an active group promoting good science

[GotRed0nYou]

@seraph595 Accepting evolution has nothing to do with the extension of one's life. Actually the life forms that evolve the most have the shortest life spans. I don't think you have even the slightest idea of what evolution actually is.

[Antithropocentric]

The idiocy of today's Republicans (who account for most Creationists) seems to be getting more and more troubling each year. It's as if they're deliberately regressing into the past as science progresses.

We really need a watchdog to enforce the First Amendment Establishment Clause, which many Republicans blatantly ignore in their actions. For example, Creationist AGW-denier James Inhofe has no business being a U.S. Senator and steering vital climate legislation. It's not just free speech.

[Antithropocentric]

@iloveshrimpp, you seem to have missed all the evidence of previous messiah/resurrection stories, and the fact that nothing was written about Jesus until decades after his supposed death, which seems quite odd, given his supposed accomplishments.

My take on Jesus is that he may have existed as a minor-league good guy, or didn't exist at all, but the people in that ancient desert were badly in need of an inspirational story, so they "wrote in his character" to make it all seem legit.

[Ampersand1988]

@iloveshrimpp Yada yada yada! all you do is yap your big shitty mouth spreading disease. Hey dude why being so nasty nasty or did fairytale Jesus touch you some where inappropriate? Is that why you nasty you little retarded man. xD Obviously you're an idiot.

[iloveshrimpp]

Obviously you're in no place to criticize considering the fact that you think proper English is considered speaking in tongue. Like i said before, read and then come and try to argue because with no knowledge to back your accusations up you're wasting time trying.

[Ampersand1988]

@iloveshrimpp What... I could not understand what you are trying to say? o.O dude speak English stop speaking in tongues it doesn't make any sense.

[iloveshrimpp]

@Ampersand1988 from the exaggeration of your excitement i can tell that you had something happen to you were you got mad at God. No atheist gets that worked up that fast lol. If you think he's pure fiction you might want to open a book for once and read up on Him. I'm sorry, it's just simple fact that he existed, just as Muhammad did. Just as you and I do. And evidence of a living spirit? You're one right now. Look up human consciousness,  read for once, then come back and try to argue.

[Ampersand1988]

iloveshrimpp is a big fat troll xD HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

[Ampersand1988]

@iloveshrimpp Tell me which Atheist? You dumb cunt Jesus never existed and his pure fiction too. xD Show me evidence of a living spirit? xD Idiocy my ass or you're some what of a dumb ass worshiping a imaginary sky daddy up in the sky... xD HAHAHAHAHAHHAhahahahahhahaha

"so if you say He's an invisible person in the sky, you're saying everyone you've ever met is as well." HHAHAHAAHAHAHHA NO God doesn't exist... LOL Hhahahahahhaha xD

[iloveshrimpp]

@Ampersand1988 Even the most ignorant (educated) atheist can confidently tell you that Jesus indeed lived on earth. Please get some education before you start spewing idiocy. And p.s. We believe God is a spirit, and we all have spirits as well (consciousness, judgement, etc..) so if you say He's an invisible person in the sky, you're saying everyone you've ever met is as well.