O.K. it's about time I post on this thing, since it's been a while and Schrodinger has taken over the Blog. So, I am a little distraught with the state of the public school system right now. I have been teaching at a math and science summer camp for girls entering the ninth grade for the last couple of weeks. One of the campers was complaining because she felt the science she was doing was irrelevant to what she would be learning next year. The program is focused on ecology, so they are studying photosynthesis, testing the soil and water-getting a head start on microscope technique. Recalling, that in my Freshman biology class we studied evolution, mitosis, plants, animals and started to use microscopes I asked, "What is it you're studying next year?" To my surprise Health class now takes the place of Freshman biology. They will learn watered down nutrition, how to brush their teeth, how to just say no to drugs, their reproductive systems and most importantly how to put a condom on a banana. I too had a health requirement in high school, but it by no means replaced biology and it was only a one semester course. And we wonder why America is falling behind in the sciences. I hate to say it, but I object to this just as much as I object to teaching creationism in the public schools. And the funny part is she's attending what is considered to be one of the more decent progressive high schools around here--Berkeley High.
Friday, July 27, 2007
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5 comments:
Aside from the fact that I disagree with not teaching creationism in our schools..I agree in that America's educational system lacks much..
I would much rather have sent my son overseas to obtain his education. At least then I'd know he was getting a GOOD foundation and something valuable to take along with him on this journey of life..
Of course when he arrived home everyday I would wash away the Darwinism he may have had to choke down on any given day.
America, America, what has happened to our school system?
I know Erich's going to be annoyed with me for starting a heated debate on the blog, but Creationism is not a science, it's part of a religious belief. If they want to teach it as part of a religious survey class I am fine with that, but it is not science. It's impossible to even accept Western medicine without accepting Evolution. Why do bacteria mutate? Why do we have drug resistance? Why do some HIV drugs no longer work for some people. All these questions that doctors face are answered by evolution.
As to what some critics suggest, scientist are not trying to disprove God/religion--it just isn't concerned with it. Science tries to explain the physical. It leaves the metaphysical to religion--creationism counts as being part of the metaphysical. I am actually a practicing Christian and I have these debates with my Aunt who believes in Creationism all the time. We've just kind of given up because we realize that neither of us is ever going to change. Funny, part is since beginning my studies in science, my belief in God has actually deepened rather than become more shallow. Also, do you ever find it odd that the Jewish community doesn't interpret Genesis literally, yet they are the ones that wrote it? (the read in Midrash- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midrash). Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe Christians as a whole have deviated from it's original intent?
I never said that science shouldn't be taught in school. I'm all for science. I am also aware that evolution exists, basic commonsense really. Do I believe our children should be taught that we evolved from apes? No I don't and that's why I believe that creationism should be taught.
Of course Christianity has deviated from it's original content. "One LORD, one faith, one baptism." That's what the Bible says. Do I take all the Bible literally? No, I realize much of it is typology.
Should I base my belief according to the Jewish people because they read the Bible in Midrash and don't take Genesis literally? Why would I do that?
Anyway, this post strayed off tract. I am against Darwin's theory not science. I absolutely believe that science should be taught in our school systems. I think that evolution should be taught in the proper context. Teaching someone that we derived from an ape is absurd. If evolution is being taught with the inclusion of Darwin's theory, then creationism should also be taught.
Two things...and then I am going to leave the topic because I don't want to start a war. The blog was developed more for fun, and not to create controversy. First, evolution does not state that man came from Ape. This is a misconception that many people have of evolution. It's states that we descended from a common ancestor many of millions of years ago. Second, humans have NOT stopped evolving, and finally evolution is not perfect. It does not select for perfection another common misconception, hence we are flawed. O.K. that's more than two points. And now I shall step away from the ledge and end this debate, because I know that it's not going to go anywhere because I've had it too many times with relatives. Peace.
I agree with you, science is important and should be part of the academic curriculum. Health was a one semester class for me as well and I don't see why it should take over the biology course.
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