Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > February > 12 > Entry
Teaching kids to fight science
Wow. Check out this story in the LA Times about a preacher who travels the nation teaching fundamentalist Christian children in-your-face retorts they can use to repeatedly challenge public school science teachers as they try to instruct them in evolution, the Big Bang Theory or even dinosaurs.
So science class will become a out-and-out battle ground. What do you think? Is this topic “fair game” for this kind of acerbic debate?
Update: Speaking of evolution, I noticed on Eric Berger’s excellent science blog that Charles Darwin’s birthday was Sunday and that he was born on the same day as Abraham Lincoln!
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
Comments
By MandyMo
February 15, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this
I have no problem with encouraging discussion and debate - the problem I have is with Ham’s methods. He’s teaching these kids to be downright disrespectful to their teachers, and the parents are encouraging it. Knowing full well that it would not be tolerated under any other circumstance. And that’s completely aside from the fact that I personally feel that zealots don’t want a discussion - I get more of a hostile, judgemental vibe of “our belief is the only correct one.” And why, exactly, if these parents want their kids to learn about creationism, can they not teach it at home? I know I’ve certainly had to supplement my child’s classroom instruction on more than one topic and been happy to do so.By Karen
February 13, 2006 3:27 PM | Link to this
Steph writes, “Make sure they know there are questions on both sides. Then let the debates begin.” The problem is it’s a false debate. Religion is about why creation happened and science about how. The other problem is that as long as the party’s to the debate hold conflicting views about the nature of religion, scripture, and/or science, they are never going to find common ground. Common ground in this situation requires that each side give up some belief or position that is fundamental to who they are. It’s like physicists and psychologists each saying that their own discipline completely describes the human condition and the other’s description is invalid or false. In reality they ask different questions and have different concerns and provide different, but equally important insights. So until creationists can respect the scientific method and prove their position in those terms, creationism belongs in a religion classroom.By Mary
February 13, 2006 2:37 PM | Link to this
Steph’s comments about cave drawings backing up aspects of the Christian Bible got me to thinking. What about the cave drawings of ancient astronauts, helicopters,etc? I guess science is not really about cave drawings - at least not directly.By Eric
February 13, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this
“Boys and girls,” Ham said. If a teacher so much as mentions evolution, or the Big Bang, or an era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, “you put your hand up and you say, ‘Excuse me, were you there?’ Can you remember that?” Hey Mr. Ham, were you there? This man is ridiculous, and his zealous preachings belong in a a mosque in Basra. This in the United States, is it not?By Dave
February 13, 2006 9:06 AM | Link to this
Reading the article, Mr. Ham is not teaching students to question evolution, he is teaching them to attack it in a religiously-based shouting match. Although the article says Mr. Ham is a former biology teacher, it does not say he has any scientific training. If he had, perhaps he would see how silly his approach is. Science does not, and cannot, compete with religion. Science is based on things which can be measured by finite humans. Religion is based on faith in an infinite god. Those who insist that science must prove the letter of the Bible are trying to push a rope. Science is simply not an adequate tool, and the attempt demonstrates their lack of faith. In 30 years as a hard-nosed (some would say hard-headed) engineer, I have never found ANY scientific reason to cast doubt on my faith.By Mary
February 13, 2006 6:41 AM | Link to this
Quite frankly, this whole debate seems to be much ado about nothing. Most students can barely spell science. There’s a lot more to science than what various groups are trying to make controversial. If students had a basic grasp of the laws of physics so they would better understand why they should buckle their seatbelts, that would be getting somewhere. If students had a better understanding of biology of the human body so they would better choose their diet and lifestyle, that would be getting somewhere. I believe ignorance of science and what it is all about is what is driving this debate - also fears, defensiveness and perceptions that religious concepts are being directly challenged by science. That is not what science is about.By Steph
February 12, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this
I was educated at a Christian institution and attended several lectures/presentations modeled after Ken Ham’s. What, exactly, is wrong with planting the seeds for children to critically evaluate science? The question, “Were you there?” not only applies to evolutionists, but also to creationists. Sure, we weren’t there, we didn’t see the world created. But we have quite a bit of support. Ancient civilizations believed in some form of a creator. Stories are handed down from generation to generation that support the Bible. I have never heard of any cave drawings representing the evolution of man. I have heard of such sketches depicting the flood or other historical events recorded in the Bible. There is nothing wrong with teaching children some of the fallacies of evolution. Make sure they know there are questions on both sides. Then let the debates begin.