Article: 16% of Biology Teachers are Young Earth Creationists

[moominmuppet]

Given the state of education in this country, I suppose I should just be grateful the percentage isn't higher.

I'm finding that very faint consolation.

Comments

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

wow. that was kind of pompous.

my point seems to be completely missed by all reading. I'm sure I'm just not making it clearly enough.

1. The ones who are teaching creationism in a science class are the ones to be concerned about not the ones who might like to.

2. Although there is often a correlation between belief and action, the belief is not the problem. We can all hope to correct someone's actions. We can condemn someone's actions. We can even petition the government to enact laws to regulate or or prohibit certain kinds of actions. But it is absurd to do those about belief itself. Also, its creepy totalitarianism no matter how well intentioned.

3. To say that there is always a correlation between a particular belief and action means you don't have to persecute the belief, because the action is always there. Persecuting the belief because it probably corrolates with the action is prejudice and that too is creepy no matter how well intentioned.

That's all I'm saying.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

my point seems to be completely missed by all reading. I'm sure I'm just not making it clearly enough.

Actually, I think we just disagree with you on several aspects.

1. The ones who are teaching creationism in a science class are the ones to be concerned about not the ones who might like to.

No, the ones not adequately teaching evolution are the ones to be concerned about. It's much broader than whether they try to actively push their beliefs. It's that everything they teach, to be taught properly, needs to be taught from the opposite perspective from the one they hold.

the belief is not the problem

In this case, it really is. If you don't believe in the scientific method, you shouldn't be teaching science. If you do believe in the scientific method, you're not a young earth creationist. Period.

But it is absurd to do those about belief itself.

Did any of us suggest legal action? No. We all said that it was deeply disturbing because of what it means about what types of actions (in terms of teaching proper theory) are likely occuring, and we find it gut-level horrifying that people who believe that think they're able to teach science without it mattering that they just don't happen to believe "that part of it". Because it can't be dissected out like that. It really can't. And they keep trying to pretend they can, and they're teaching a bastardized and twisted version of science as a result.

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

but that's like saying I couldn't tell a person how to loose weight because I'm obese.

You can understand scientific method, be able to teach it and still make exceptions in your own head. That's your typical do as I say not as I do. or those who can do do those who can't teach.

Next thing you'll be saying English teachers can't misspeak or dangle a participle.

Where they're too tangled up to teach, we're all in agreement. So that's something positive anyway.

[jajy1979.livejournal.com]

We're talking about impressionable aged individuals who aren't stupid (despite claims to the contrary) they readily pick up on when a person is telling the rote that they themselves do not believe in.

Further despite the idea of "do as I say, not as I do" you have a major issue that most people actually still find ways to openly show their disdain for ideas they don't support even if they tell others to do it.

Also refusing acceptance of the scientific method, even on a personal level, makes one ultimately unqualified to teach the subject. You're talking about the foundations of the entire field, and a refusal to accept this means that you hold all scientific law as suspect. Thus completely impairing your ability to teach the subject matter that is founded upon it.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Next thing you'll be saying English teachers can't misspeak or dangle a participle.


Closer to an English teacher who rejects the fundamental concept of grammar.