Schools Req'd to notify parents before teaching evolution

[Reggie Dunlop]

What it all boils down to is guys like CalgaryBorn are really teaching their kids is to be afraid. Fear of ideas. Fear of those different than themselves.

Christian Fundamentalists are losing the culture war. Their last line of defense is to circle the wagons.

[evman150]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

What it all boils down to is guys like CalgaryBorn are really teaching their kids is to be afraid. Fear of ideas. Fear of those different than themselves.

Christian Fundamentalists are losing the culture war. Their last line of defense is to circle the wagons.

"Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man."

Bertrand Russell, of course.

[bcb]

1.) Why, as a teacher, is it my responsibility to keep track of every bit of subject matter that affects every kid? Maybe I should just cover up my large periodic table at the front of the room with a grid chart. Whether you believe it or not, I am actually quite busy already, thank you.

2.) True, this legislation is seemingly unproductive, but it has the ability to cause lots of harm. Parents always had the right to pull their kid out of class under the School Act. Now, parents have the human right for kids not to learn anything deemed offensive.

Human rights are regulated by the Human Rights Act. Infractions are dealt with in Human Rights Commissions!

Are they going to set up a commission in every school?

[arsenal]

Same thing is happening in Texas. Except, the teachers will be allowed to bring up the Creationist *cough*bs*cough* theory, and allow the students think for themselves.

So.. the jury is still out on Science.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/ba...000-years-old/

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by arsenal

the teachers will be allowed to bring up the Creationist *cough*bs*cough* theory, and allow the students think for themselves.

While I agree that the whole creationist thing is crap, I like this idea. Allowing the students to decide for themselves which they'd like to believe is key. No one should get railroaded into believing anything, regardless of what we all think is the "right" answer. To deny either line of thinking is becoming just as bad as the "fundamentalists" we all bitch about. My .02

[Antithesis]

I agree, Res, with this proviso: that they are taught the "creationist" ideas away from Science ... because they couldn't be further from Science.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

While I agree that the whole creationist thing is crap, I like this idea. Allowing the students to decide for themselves which they'd like to believe is key. No one should get railroaded into believing anything, regardless of what we all think is the "right" answer. To deny either line of thinking is becoming just as bad as the "fundamentalists" we all bitch about. My .02

Well heck...then why dont we teach alternative ideas on just about everything then? Flat or Round earth? What if we had an all boys class and taught them about the idea of Sharia Law and the all male benefits?
Why dont we teach an equal rights class that women should be at home barefoot and pregnant?
Lets keep the CRAP out of schools shall we and move on without filling schedules with more BS.

[photon]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

While I agree that the whole creationist thing is crap, I like this idea. Allowing the students to decide for themselves which they'd like to believe is key. No one should get railroaded into believing anything, regardless of what we all think is the "right" answer. To deny either line of thinking is becoming just as bad as the "fundamentalists" we all bitch about. My .02

I have no problem teaching creation myths from different cultures and religions, but teach it in a comparative religions class, it has no place in science.

Learn about creation myths, not that creation myths are a substitute for science.

[onetwo_threefour]

Slightly related, but I don't like starting threads usually...

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...icle995257.ece

[photon]

Not totally on topic, but it kind of fits here. Here's a really good article about the probability argument often used in the evolution / intelligent design discussion. Just read this myself and thought some might be interested.

http://richardcarrier.blogspot.com/2...enesis_01.html

[photon]

Sorry to monopolize the thread, but something actually on topic:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/st...an-rights.html

But in an interview with CBC News Monday, Blackett said he has gone through the draft bill and talked to staff in the education and justice departments and concluded that religious beliefs aren't covered.
"This is opt-out on religious instruction not on grounds of religious beliefs. So the thought that somebody can get out of evolution using the fact that it's against their religious beliefs is not correct," he said. "Evolution is not a part of religious studies, it's part of science curriculum, and there is nothing that will change that going forward."
If a teacher follows the curriculum there "is no problem."

[troutman]

Bishop Henry wrote about the issue in the May 6th Calgary Sun. Sorry, I can't find a link. IIRC, he said basically that evolution is compatible with a creator, and that intelligent design was bunk.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by troutman

Bishop Henry wrote about the issue in the May 6th Calgary Sun. Sorry, I can't find a link. IIRC, he said basically that evolution is compatible with a creator, and that intelligent design was bunk.

yeah that is the catholic stance. It was in God's plans to allow organisms to evolve.

[monkeyman]

Without wading into the whole intelligent design/evolution debate, isn't the scariest part of this legislation making it a human rights issue? i mean do we really want to open up that pandora's box? Isn't the human rights commission already a forum of abuse by specialty groups? Last thing we need is to lose more teachers for fear of being prosecuted.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by photon

Sorry to monopolize the thread, but something actually on topic:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/st...an-rights.html

Nice backpedaling by the govt, but perhaps that much was to be expected. But get this, now Hindu parents can pull their kids out of class if Christianity is going to be discussed, Christians can pull their kids out of class if the topic of Islaam is coming up. (And of course, atheists can pull their kids out of school when any religion is discussed, right? Oh wait a minute, since atheism is a lack of belief, this probably means this law doesn't apply to atheists) God forbid our children should learn anything about the belief systems of some of the other billions of people on the planet.

Even without the evolution aspect, codifying this into legislation is nothing short of assinine.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by photon

.... Should any parent be able to withdraw their child from any topic they don't like?..

without question the answer is yes ... i dont even know why there has to be a law for that. i am the parent and if i dont want my child exposed to certain teachings, then thats 100% my right.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

without question the answer is yes ... i dont even know why there has to be a law for that. i am the parent and if i dont want my child exposed to certain teachings, then thats 100% my right.

You don't have any rights vis-a-vis your children. They have rights. You have a duty.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

without question the answer is yes ... i dont even know why there has to be a law for that. i am the parent and if i dont want my child exposed to certain teachings, then thats 100% my right.

Really? You would answer that question without qualification?
I disagree that parents have some ultimate authority over everything to do with education. In order for kids to have equality of opportunity there has to be a certain minimum standard of education.

[photon]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

without question the answer is yes ... i dont even know why there has to be a law for that. i am the parent and if i dont want my child exposed to certain teachings, then thats 100% my right.

I disagree, you don't own your kids.

Is it your right to raise them illiterate?

[DementedReality]

how many of you who answered me are parents?