One in eight U.S. high school teachers presents creationism as a valid alternative to evolution, says a poll published in Public Library of Science Biology.
– One in Eight High School Biology Teachers Still Teach Creationism
The article states that 32% of the 900 teachers, who responded to a poll conducted by Penn State University political scientist Michael Berkman, agreed that creationism and intelligent design should be taught as scientifically unsound. Forty percent said that such explanations are religiously valid but inappropriate for science class. EXACTLY!
However, 25% said they devoted classroom time to creationism or intelligent design. Of these, about one-half — 12% of all teachers — called creationism a “valid scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species,” and the same number said that “many reputable scientists view these as valid alternatives to Darwinian theory.”
Excuse me? ‘valid scientific alternative’??? What’s scientific about the bible? Where is the proof?
Personally, I think that any teacher who is found teaching Creationism or Intelligent Design should loose their teaching certificate. They shouldn’t even be allowed to be a substitute teacher.
I’ve said it before … I’m saying it now .. and I’m sure I’ll say it again … science class is for teaching FACTS … not religion.
I guess this is where we differ. I don’t want to start a religion war, but I think both should be taught (with equal time) so the student can formulate their own opinion. The way I see it, scientists can’t prove without any doubt that we evolved and religious people can’t prove without a doubt that we were created. In the end, we will just have to wait and see who was right and who was wrong (if you believe there is life after death that is).
Yes, we do differ … and, IMO, ‘religion’ doesn’t enter into it. It’s strictly a mater of evidence and facts.
Scientists CAN prove that evolution happened, is happening, and continues to happen … there is the fossil record and directly observed examples.
Creationism CANNOT be proven … there is no proof that it ever happened … and there it cannot be observed through any means.
As for ‘equal time’ … who’s to say what theories should get ‘equal time’? If creationism should get equal time with evolution, then so should other theories … I found a page that lists a bunch of creation myths … should they get equal time also?
IF I had any kids, I would raise bloody hell if their valuable time in science class was wasted with anything other than biology, physics, chemistry, geology, etc. All those topics are part of evolutionary theory.