To My Brother In Chicago: Tell Me Not To Worry About Religion In the Schools?
The other day the actor told me that his science teacher said that he does not believe in evolution. The boy asked him, "If you don't believe in evolution what do believe?"
The response, "I believe that there some sort of intelligent design..."
Here is the Georgia 7th grade standard:
S7L5. Students will examine the evolution of living organisms through inherited characteristics that promote survival of organisms and the survival of successive generations of their offspring.
a. Explain that physical characteristics of organisms have changed over successive generations (e.g. Darwin’s finches and peppered moths of Manchester).
b. Describe ways in which species on earth have evolved due to natural selection.
c. Trace evidence that the fossil record found in sedimentary rock provides evidence for the long history of changing life forms.
I don't usually write about religion on this blog. I believe that religion is personal and should not be shared with others. And I definitely don't a want creationist disguised as a science teacher teaching creation my children.
18 variables:
// I believe that religion is personal and should not be shared with others//
BOY...Have you got that right!!
I wish I could elaborate more, but I am pretty tipzy after a football game....ana just checking tubes a little bit ...before we go back out and celebrate a 51-14 Wisconisn victory. Madison is rocking ana so am I. Thank god there are still some good Italian places along State St.
Big Ten football rocsk,
oh, by the way, I had my fossil records checked...... I am descended from a Schiltz pop top circa long-time. Which just goes to show you that science is more viable than religion.
Of course I don't have all the facts just from your synopsis of the situation. But while I wholeheartedly agree with the theme of your post, I must ask if the teacher professes to be a creationist (where did I see a description of the two types of creationists? The "Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs to church" creationists and the "Earth is 6,000 years old" creationists).
I believe in intelligent design insomuch as there being a creative, benign force behind all existence. I'd say Taoism is the "religion" in which I have most enjoyed dabbling.
So the $64,0000 question is, "Why isn't evolution considered intelligent design?"
I think we need to ask some questions to find out exactly what the teacher intends to teach, don't you? If he doesn't plan to address evolution at all, then some of those students will miss an opportunity to learn about it because they come from homes that deny evolution.
If they don't learn the science of evolution, they won't be meeting the state's standards as I understand them.
Here's the question I have for the ID and/or creationists - do they think that things evolve from natural selection or do they find the idea of human evolution to be counter to their religious beliefs? Is it about all evolution or human evolution?
When DCup told me about this the other day, I was horrified
Religion is personal yes, but I do choose to speak and write about mine often. And as I hope you know, I have no vested interested in changing or converting anyone else.
Part of the reason I write about it is to show that not all religious people are wingnuts and asshats... I am not always sure I do that very well, sometimes I probably sound like one or both.
All this said, I am firm in my belief that what should be taught in schools is SCIENCE. You know, the kind you can study and work with.
I think I understand what O'Tim might be saying... I do see the hand of God in all things, but that for me does not preclude science as we understand it as empirical study.
Even if that teacher sticks to the curriculum 100% I am really concerned. What is the point of saying that you don't believe in it, to the kids?
To me that feels very passive aggressive as if to say, "I'm teaching, you are learning, but it has no value."
Well if it has no value to you, then why are you a goddam science teacher?
It undermines the classroom. For a kid like Nathan - from I know of him through Lisa and also from your blog, I think he is pretty clear.
But what about kids who are not so centered or self assured?
It just seems wrong at so many levels.
Don't worry about religion in schools? As a religious person I worry about it all the goddam time.
P.S. Catholics do not believe in creationism or intelligent design. Any Catholic who professes that has taken a departure from church teachings. Their right, but not part of the canon, doctine or dogma of the Vatican. There are so few things one can be proud of as an RC. This is one.
Ok....I agree AND disagree.
I think that religion is personal but that it is ok to share with others when they are open to it being shared with them.
I do NOT believe that it is ok to share it in the teacher/student/classroom relationship. The teacher is in a position of authority and is being PAID to follow the teaching guidelines set forth....not to get close to that slippery slope.
I'm curious, did you report it to the administration? If not, do you plan to?
I totally believe that God created the earth and the heavens....but I do not believe that the classroom is my platform for sharing that with others. Period.
I agree with you in totality! I think science/evolution should be taught in a science class not scriptures. That really gets my goat! If people want children to have some religion in their lives, their own families can do that. They can go to church. The public schools are meant to be a place where no specific religion will be discussed (or any at all in my opinion).
Hi--Fran sent me.
A science teacher has no business being in the classroom if s/he:
--Does not know that science requires testable hypotheses.
--Does not know that God and "intelligent design" are, by their very nature, untestable hypotheses.
--Cannot tell that "intelligent design" isn't science.
--Cannot tell the difference between bad theology and science.
Like Fran, I'm a progressive Christian (of the Episcopalian persuasion). I can believe that God is behind creation, but I will NEVER be able to prove that in a lab. That's called faith, people---and if you can't tell the difference between science and faith, I don't want you within a hundred yards of my children's hungry little brains.
I want my kids to learn science at school. I'll teach them the theology at home and at church.
I hope you report this guy your son's teacher---Fran is right on with her assessment of how that guy's message comes across.
Pax,
Doxy
I had a science teacher in middle school who didn't believe in evolution. I argued with him on a regular basis.
Maybe he messed up other students, but I always called him on his shit, and I did a strong job of mocking him.
He didn't stay in the business long.
I think that intelligent design and evolution can coexist...but I think it's totally wrong that that teacher was telling students that evolution doesn't exist (at least in his opinion).
I think that intelligent design and evolution can coexist...but I think it's totally wrong that that teacher was telling students that evolution doesn't exist (at least in his opinion).
Here's what I think about this post. I too would be very concerned about this.
Firstly, I'll preface that with my thinking that religion and spirituality are two very different things. I think spiritualaity is one's very personal relationship with the unseen things of this world. I think that religion is the congregating with others to express that however one wishes out in the world. It might be dancing around a maypole yearly, having tantric sex with whomever, or might be singing hymms in a hot (I mean caliente not pica) robe in church one day a week. It might involve prayer or meditation with others or without.... That's just my take. Though, I have no problem whatsoever with your view either. It's just having a common language, I suppose to discuss or not these issues.
But... as far as school goes, that's a different story. Religion has no place in a classroom, though discussions that are fair and balanced and I mean to the extreme, like presenting world views equanimically (I probably spelled that wrongly) might be enriching.
The teacher could use this topic to present to the class the FACT that science is not static and unchanging. In the history of science (which I am sure the teacher is required to incorporate into his curriculum) he couls persent past views on these matters, what the dominant world view was before Darwin or some such such and such, but science is a process. Evolution is a process. Presenting science a a body of facts is doing students a huge disservice. It makes science a thing of the past not the future.
Now, with all that being said, I agree with O'Tim and think evolution is a pretty intelligent fucking design, though what's behind it is pretty unclear to me and has certainly not been agreed upon by the scientific community. I'm pretty sure some theoretical physicists have some pretty interesting ideas and that the landscape will change drastically over the course of The Actor's life.
With that being said (sorry), I would march my concerns right to the teacher if I were concerned that the teaching of science was not occurring. The teacher should be held accountable for the standards. And, they are upon what the NCLB tests The Actor takes will be based (as I'm sure you are all too aware.)
You might be able to help this teacher if this is a persistent issue....
I'm not feeling bouncy enough for a proper comment on this subject but I would like to say I agree with most of what everyone else has said.. and most of all, taking the matter up with the teacher or his employers if necessary.
I'm down with Susan on all counts.
Personal religious views should NOT be in the classroom.
My spiritual life and faith (Quaker) informs the way I interact with the world, including the students in my classroom. But I do not think it would be appropriate to talk about my religious beliefs with my students. I think this teacher -- if the context was as you presented it -- should be called on it.
Troubling. This requires follow-up.
clearly, being in Chicago with a 3 year old knocked me way out of the loop. This is more than troubling. Have we gone backward that much that schools are knowingly putting creationists in charge of our children's science education? This is Unconstitutional.
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments. I have followed up on this issue and will report back to you soon.
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