Teaching Evolution is Not Optional

[he_who_is_nobody]

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Thoughts?

 

[Inferno]

Excellent video. I've heard similar things before, but this was superbly phrased.

When looking at the article, one thing jumped at me: (This is talking about the 60%)

Others defend the teaching of evolution as a necessary evil, using state examination requirements as a convenient means to disassociate themselves from the very material they are expected to teach. These examinations have only been recently introduced in most states. Yet, many teachers told us that they tell students that it does not matter if they really "believe" in evolution, so long as they know it for the test. One Michigan teacher tells students that they need to understand evolution because the biology curriculum "is organized as if evolution is true" [emphasis added].

This makes me mad, because it's such a disregard for why students should learn it. Because it's in the curriculum? No, because it's important and interesting!

 

[he_who_is_nobody]

Excellent video. I've heard similar things before, but this was superbly phrased.

When looking at the article, one thing jumped at me: (This is talking about the 60%)

Others defend the teaching of evolution as a necessary evil, using state examination requirements as a convenient means to disassociate themselves from the very material they are expected to teach. These examinations have only been recently introduced in most states. Yet, many teachers told us that they tell students that it does not matter if they really "believe" in evolution, so long as they know it for the test. One Michigan teacher tells students that they need to understand evolution because the biology curriculum "is organized as if evolution is true" [emphasis added].

This makes me mad, because it's such a disregard for why students should learn it. Because it's in the curriculum? No, because it's important and interesting!

Even beyond it being important and interesting, it should be learn for the simple fact that it is true. Regardless of it being interesting and important (which I believe it is both), it is a fact. In school, there are a great many things that we learn which is less important and interesting, yet there is no fuss over there teaching. School is where facts are taught, simple as that.