Hot Topic (5/30): How should science be taught in school?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

From Houston & Texas News: 

By GARY SCHARRER
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
May 28, 2009, 10:40PM

AUSTIN — In a rare rejection of an appointment by the Texas governor, the Senate Thursday ousted Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education, with his supporters claiming the Bryan dentist was the victim of his strong religious beliefs.

McLeroy is a devout Christian who believes in creationism and the notion that the Earth is about 6,000 years old. He has steadfastly argued that Texas students should be taught the weaknesses of evolution.

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What do you think?  Should creation be taught in schools alongside evolution?   What's your opinion?

[stormcris]

I think all religions should be taught in all schools in History class, given their historical perspectives only. I have seen this done effectively and liked that way.

[momandvet]

Theology doesn't belong in a Science lesson.  The theory of evolution has lasted 150 years of scrutiny.  That is a pretty sound theory.

[evythecute]

i think alternative theories should be taught along side the big bang theory and the theory of evolution. Not in a specific way, as in this is what the bible say (because not just christians believe in intelligent design).  i think that the theories need to be thought as just that, theories and not facts. this is coming from a non religious person.

[momandvet]

Intelligent design is not a scientific theory where as the THEORY of Evolution is.  Look up the difference and you will see why it doesn't belong in a science classroom.

Scientific theories

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory

In the sciences generally, theories are constructed from elementary theorems that consist in empirical data about observable phenomena. A scientific theory is used as a plausible general principle or body of principles offered to explain a phenomenon.^[4]

A scientific theory is a deductive theory, in that, its content is based on some formal system of logic and that some of its elementary theorems are taken as axioms. In a deductive theory, any sentence which is a logical consequence of one or more of the axioms is also a sentence of that theory.^[3]

A major concern in construction of scientific theories is the problem of demarcation, i.e., distinguishing those ideas that are properly studied by the sciences and those that are not.

Theories are intended to be an accurate, predictive description of the natural world. However, it is sometimes not clear whether the conclusions derived from the theory inform us about the nature of the world, or the nature of the theory.

Quoting evythecute:

i think alternative theories should be taught along side the big bang theory and the theory of evolution. Not in a specific way, as in this is what the bible say (because not just christians believe in intelligent design).  i think that the theories need to be thought as just that, theories and not facts. this is coming from a non religious person.

[resamerie]

Since religion is more or less banned from the classroom, unless the child goes to a religion based school, (Catholic school, etc) I would expect the schools to just give the scientific version. Not agreeing with that myself, I would take the time to explain the other side to my child myself. While I really don't believe in evolution, or we would have 1/2 apes 1/2 men walking around now going through the proccess, I don't believe any religion should be forced upon a child. I'll take that one up at home.  

[metalcowgirl34]

Science should be taught in science class and religion in another.  You can't teach creationism in science class and then teach any other kind of biology without contradicting it.  Biology doesn't make sense without evolution.  Evolution is just as much a theory as gravity is....whether you believe it's guided by or started by a god or not, it happens every day and you can't deny it.

[4kidz916]

Theory of evolution is what some people believe, creation is what others believe.  If you can teach one, then why not the other????

[Raintree]

Because one isn't science.

Quoting 4kidz916:

Theory of evolution is what some people believe, creation is what others believe.  If you can teach one, then why not the other????

[Raintree]

Quoting resamerie:

Since religion is more or less banned from the classroom, unless the child goes to a religion based school, (Catholic school, etc) I would expect the schools to just give the scientific version. Not agreeing with that myself, I would take the time to explain the other side to my child myself. While I really don't believe in evolution, or we would have 1/2 apes 1/2 men walking around now going through the proccess, I don't believe any religion should be forced upon a child. I'll take that one up at home.  

What?

[metalcowgirl34]

Quoting resamerie:

While I really don't believe in evolution, or we would have 1/2 apes 1/2 men walking around now going through the proccess, I don't believe any religion should be forced upon a child. I'll take that one up at home.  

Why don't you just admit you don't really know what evolution is, instead of saying you don't believe in it just because you don't get it.  What you said has nothing to do with what evolution really is.