Questioning evolution, covering the controversy

Physicist Jennifer Steele talks about when questioning makes sense, how ready high schoolers are (and aren't), how focusing on the so-called "controversy" confuses students. Where: Austin, TX. When: July 21, 2011

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Jennifer Steele
• Texas board of education
• SBOE
• textbooks
• textbook supplements
• creationism
• evolution
• NCSE

[GreatBigBore]

Hey Jennifer, we could solve the problem by teaching them EVERYTHING that we know about the creation story, like the fact that it was written by people from a very primitive culture, and that there are no facts to support anything mentioned in it, that kind of thing.

[GreatBigBore]

The kids "losing their faith in the scientific method" is EXACTLY what the superstitionists want.

[theUKatheist]

if they want creation to be schooled then do it, but teach them everything behind it including how absolutely ridiculous it is. if the students can see for themselves how ridiculous creation is then they can tell others the same thing. the important thing is that we know students will always think for themselves, if they think we are hiding something they will wonder why. tell them every silly demonstrably wrong notion of creation.

[GreatBigBore]

@0debug If only we were lucky enough to have CR taught in our schools! Maybe I'll move to Sweden.

[0debug]

@GreatBigBore Hm. Isn't Comparative Religion a subject in America? It was some years since I went to grade school, but here (in Sweden), all religions are more or less treated equal in the comparative religion class, and it's basically a mix of history class, mythology, and linked to current social issues/aspects in the world. In a CR class, things like the culture/superstition/mythology at the time when the Abrahamitic religions were founded should of course be talked about. Otherwise it's bad.

[TransitionalSpecies]

I think she makes excellent points. Yes, teach children to think critically, but don't give them the idea that at high school level they can decide what science is correct. They aren't at a level to be able to make that kind of determination.

[Tippitapitus]

@doGoNsIylbaborPerehT Totta kai!

[doGoNsIylbaborPerehT]

@Tippitapitus

In the original language of course!!!!!

;-)

[Tippitapitus]

If you want to teach creationism, you MUST only teach Kalevala!!!!!

[DoMadrid]

Flatearthers rule!

[SanguineBullet667]

WHY SHOULD WE EVEN MENTION PLATO IN A BIOLOGY CLASS????!!!!???? I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY HE EVEN BRINGS THIS UP

[nemirn]

@GreatBigBore

You'd kill as a pro-science testifier at any of these hearings. I don't know what effect the guitar noodling would have, however.