If you are a facebook friend who has decided to come along for the ride I apologize for repeating myself but I think we should start at the beginning.
Let me set the stage. In November of 2005 the Kansas State Board of Education made a decision that passed with a vote of 6 - 4. That decision basically allowed the idea of Intellegent Design to be taught in public schools as an alternat theory to evolution. Included in that decision were five main points. They are as follows:
1. Add to the mission statement a goal that science education should seek to help students make informed decisions.
2. Provide a definition of science that is not strictly limited to natural explanations.
3. Allow Intellegent Design to be presented as an alternate explanation to evolution as presented in mainstream biology textbooks.
4. State that evolution is a theory not a fact.
5. Require informing students of purported scientific controversies regarding evolution.
If you remember when this was going on the new media was going nuts over the idea that Kansas was wanting to teach "Creation" in school. The BOE was blasted not only by local media but even national media outlets. They also took fire from all of the mainstream scientific organizations. Thier biggest argument, apart from the obvious religious implications, was that Intellegent Design should not be taught because there is no way to prove or test the theory.
The decision didn't last long. In 2007 it was reversed after we elected "moderate republicans" to the State BOE.
Fast forward to about two weeks ago. My 13 year old daughter does not like science. She says she doesn't get it. I'm o.k. with that. She is carrying A's in every class but science.
She came home from school the other day frustrated because she and several other students had debated the science teacher over Creation-vs-Evolution. Her primary frustration was "he just won't listen". Now, this was not shocking to me or her. We have told our girls over and over that what they are teaching in science concerning our beginning is simply a humanistic theory that removes God from all aspects of life. So I reminded her of this and then went on my way.
Then came time for parent teacher conferences. Durning my discussion with the science teacher I asked if there was something that my daughter was struggling with specifically that was keeping her grade down. His response was" No nothing specific, there are just some things she refuses to learn. I understand if she has a different belief but if she wants a better grade she will have to learn the curriculum." I asked him at this point whether he allowed the discussion of Intellegent Design as an alternative to Evolution. He told me he was not allowed to. I then asked about the BOE's decision that did allow this. I wasn't aware that the decision had been reversed three years earlier, so it was a bad argument. He brought up the First Ammendment and told me it required the seperation of Church and State. I presented my views on this as well and finally he told " I have an email that says I'm not allowed to teach Intellegent Design."
Before I left I summed up our conversation to make sure of what I had heard. I said to him " Basically what I'm hearing is that it's o.k. if she wants to believe something else but she has to learn and be tested on what she does not believe in order to pass the class." To this he answered "Yes".
I'm going to park here for awhile before I go on to my Constitution thoughts.
Ask yourself this "is this education or indoctrination?'. I'll tackle that next time!
"He brought up the First Ammendment and told me it required the seperation of Church and State."
ReplyDeleteThat statement is an easy out! I've been around teachers my entire life that have taught in a public school. As long as a student brings up the discussion, it CAN be discussed. I've listened to the Christmas Story being told to a class of 6th graders because someone asked my mom what her tradition was on Christmas Eve. My brother skims the chapter briefly but always points out that not everyone believes in evolution, and that's OK. He doesn't test on that section.
My cousin's husband was a Middle School science teacher (Derby, KS) and a basketball coach who had one of his athletes voluntarily lead the prayer before each game. He suddenly passed away this summer and in the crowd of over 700 people in a church gymnasium, there were COUNTLESS lives that man influenced as a teacher and a coach. I know because I stood by his wife as several past players spoke about how knowing Mr. Dunn was praying for them changed them.
So... "separation" is relative, Keep that debate going Kip, we've got your back.