Rise in Unemployment Expected for H.S. Biology Teachers

                      Image via Wikipedia

This just in, an at least 13% rise in unemployment is expected for H.S. biology teachers. This expected development can be tied directly to the view of the majority of high-school biology teachers not taking a solid stance on evolution with their students. 

While fewer than 30 percent of teachers take an adamant pro-evolutionary stance on the topic, a new study finds that 13 percent of teachers advocate creationism in their classrooms.

Another Fine Post from: No 2 Religion - Just Say No!

Related articles

• 13% of H.S. Biology Teachers Advocate Creationism in Class (livescience.com)
• High school biology teachers reluctant to endorse evolution in class (physorg.com)

Say What?

From the dumb and stupid file we find that Tom Ritter, who taught physics and chemistry for over a decade, has filed a federal lawsuit against The Blue Mountain School District in the Middle District of Pennsylvania where he resides. This is same district that rendered the infamous Kitzmiller decision in 2005. 

Tom Ritter's argument:

Evolution is Unscientific "The theory of evolution by cumulative natural selection is the only theory we know of that is in principle capable of explaining the existence of organized complexity." -- Richard Dawkins, famous Atheist

Biology studies organisms. It can also explain how organisms got that way, but studying organisms does not require explaining how they got that way, and the theory of evolution is bad science.

Evolutionists cannot demonstrate that three critical points are even possible, let alone that they actually happened:
(1) No one has demonstrated that life can be created from non-life.  (Reports of artificial DNA do not alter this fact. Life is still required.)
(2) No one has demonstrated that a new "sexual species" can be created. (Since the definition of species is contested, for these purposes it is defined as an organism that can breed with its own kind and produce fertile offspring, but cannot breed with its ancestors.)

(3) Evolutionists theorize the human brain evolved from lower forms. Over 50 years into the age of computers, machines can crunch numbers far better and faster than humans, recognize and use language and tools, and beat us in chess. Yet science has yet to build even a rudimentary computer that can contemplate its own existence, the hallmark of the human brain. (Contemplating your existence is best understood as imagining what will remain after your death.) And no animal, no matter how "intelligent," can do this either. Ask anyone who espouses evolution if these three points are not true. If evolution is unscientific, why teach it? Because no Creator means no God. In other words, evolution taught without a possible alternative is Atheism. Now Atheism rests on an article of faith (A strong belief that cannot be proven but is nonetheless believed). Therefore Atheism is a religion. And it is illegal to teach religion in the public schoolss.

(I am not defending creationism or intelligent design. But evolution has not proven its case, and until it does, saying it is the only explanation for present life is Atheism.)

I just don't know what to say.

Another Fine Post from: No 2 Religion - Just Say No!

New Religious Push in Schools

Image via Wikipedia

Now that school boards and legislatures are back in full swing after the holidays I am noticing a push for more religion in schools. From moments of silence and church graduations to creationism science freedom and religious liberties bills. 

I am not going to go into the specifics of each link below as many others have already done so. But, here is a sample of bills and board decisions in the last few weeks.   

Schools may again require moment of silence

Giles schools give God space; will return Ten Commandments display to buildings 

School board: Graduations to stay at church

Oklahoma House Bill 1551 (rtf) and Senate Bill 554 (rtf).

Mississippi Student Religious Liberties Act Of 2011

Another Fine Post from: No 2 Religion - Just Say No!

Related articles

• Student Religious Liberties Act of 2011 (msatheists.org)
• Moment of Silence and Prayer Back in Play in Illinois (friendlyatheist.com)
• Virginia school board votes to put Ten Commandments back in county schools (secularnewsdaily.com)

What Did He Really Expect?

Christian Doc says goodbye to Religious Forums. Apparently, God Christian Doc couldn't take the heat in the kitchen over his creationist views. As SKWIM put it, "And another one bites the dust."

Creationism in Schools Is All The Rage

Image via Wikipedia

It seems to be taken seriously as a school board candidate in the South these days you need to be a creationist. Although, some of these candidates get an "A" for their stance on sex ed, some also get an "F" for NOT keeping public education secular. Bold added below by me for emphasis.

School board candidates address issues at forum
By Kimberly C. Moore
Staff writer

Published: Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 10:53 p.m.

Eight of the 12 Alachua County School Board candidates who attended Sunday night's forum at Oak Hammock retirement community, along with stand-ins for two candidates who couldn't be there, agreed on one thing: age-appropriate sex education in schools is a must.

"One in four seniors in high school - girls - has an STD," said April Griffin, who is running for the District 1 seat. "Two hundred girls in Alachua County schools had a baby last year. A lot of parents don't want to teach them or don't know how to teach them."

Beyond that, it was an ideological free-for-all for the candidates running for the three open seats on the school board. About 100 people packed into a conference room, most of them residents in the retirement community, to listen as candidates addressed issues like the budget, creationism, sex education and merit pay for teachers.

Moderators pointed out that state funding for Alachua County schools has dropped 28 percent since the 2007-08 school year - including cuts of $17 million last year - and wanted to know what candidates would do to ensure increased funding levels.

"Florida has never, ever been kind to children in funding education," said Carol Oyenarte, who is running for the District 5 seat and helped in the effort to get a one mill increase in school funding from Alachua County taxpayers. "We're 49th in the nation. Part of that is that we just don't value education. Our community believes in education for our children. We have to keep persevering."

Many of the candidates said they would develop relationships with local lawmakers and urge them to fight for funding in the state capital.
Some of the candidates thought creationism has a place in public school education, with others saying it should be taught in a class that discusses theories or philosophies of all world religions. Some, though, said it belongs in church or at home.
"I am absolutely opposed to teaching creationism as science in our schools," said Rick Nesbit, who is running for the District 1 seat. "I would absolutely safeguard the separation of church and state."

You can read the remainder of the article here.

Home School Text Books Replace Evolution With Creationism

Image by woodleywonderworks via Flickr

There are a lot of valid reasons to home school a child. Poor quality and dangerous schools come to mind. However, whatever the reason, having quality text books and educational materials is critical in making home schooling a success.

Obviously, the battle for secularism in education is not just in public schools it also needs to be fought with home schools.

Top home-school texts dismiss evolution for creationism

By Dylan Lovan, The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Home-school mom Susan Mule wishes she hadn't taken a friend's advice and tried a textbook from a popular Christian publisher for her 10-year-old's biology lessons.

Mule's precocious daughter Elizabeth excels at science and has been studying tarantulas since she was 5. But she watched Elizabeth's excitement turn to confusion when they reached the evolution section of the book from Apologia Educational Ministries, which disputed Charles Darwin's theory.

"I thought she was going to have a coronary," Mule said of her daughter, who is now 16 and taking college courses in Houston. "She's like, 'This is not true!"'

Christian-based materials dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. And for most home-school parents, a Bible-based version of the Earth's creation is exactly what they want. Federal statistics from 2007 show 83% of home-schooling parents want to give their children "religious or moral instruction."

"The majority of home-schoolers self-identify as evangelical Christians," said Ian Slatter, a spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association. "Most home-schoolers will definitely have a sort of creationist component to their home-school program."

Those who don't, however, often feel isolated and frustrated from trying to find a textbook that fits their beliefs.

Two of the best-selling biology textbooks stack the deck against evolution, said some science educators who reviewed sections of the books at the request of The Associated Press.

"I feel fairly strongly about this. These books are promulgating lies to kids," said Jerry Coyne, an ecology and evolution professor at the University of Chicago.

The textbook publishers defend their books as well-rounded lessons on evolution and its shortcomings. One of the books doesn't attempt to mask disdain for Darwin and evolutionary science.

"Those who do not believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God will find many points in this book puzzling," says the introduction to Biology: Third Edition from Bob Jones University Press. "This book was not written for them."

The textbook delivers a religious ultimatum to young readers and parents, warning in its History of Life chapter that a "Christian worldview ... is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is."

When the AP asked about that passage, university spokesman Brian Scoles said the sentence made it into the book because of an editing error and will be removed from future editions.

The size of the business of home-school texts isn't clear because the textbook industry is fragmented and privately held publishers don't give out sales numbers. Slatter said home-school material sales reach about $1 billion annually in the U.S.

Publishers are well aware of the market, said Jay Wile, a former chemistry professor in Indianapolis who helped launch the Apologia curriculum in the early 1990s.

"If I'm planning to write a curriculum, and I want to write it in a way that will appeal to home-schoolers, I'm going to at least find out what my demographic is," Wile said.

In Kentucky, Lexington home-schooler Mia Perry remembers feeling disheartened while flipping through a home-school curriculum catalog and finding so many religious-themed textbooks.

"We're not religious home-schoolers, and there's somewhat of a feeling of being outnumbered," said Perry, who has home-schooled three of her four children after removing her oldest child from a public school because of a health condition.

Perry said she cobbled together her own curriculum after some mainstream publishers told her they would not sell directly to home-schooling parents.

Wendy Womack, another Lexington home-school mother, said the only scientifically credible curriculum she's found is from the Maryland-based Calvert School, which has been selling study-at-home materials for more than 100 years.

Apologia and Bob Jones University Press say their science books sell well. Apologia's Exploring Creation biology textbook retails for $65, while Bob Jones' Biology Third Edition lists at $52.

Coyne and Virginia Tech biology professor Duncan Porter reviewed excerpts from the Apologia and Bob Jones biology textbooks, which are equivalent to ninth- and 10th-grade biology lessons. Porter said he would give the books an F.

"If this is the way kids are home-schooled then they're being shortchanged, both rationally and in terms of biology," Coyne said. He argued that the books may steer students away from careers in biology or the study of the history of the earth.

Wile countered that Coyne "feels compelled to lie in order to prop up a failing hypothesis (evolution). We definitely do not lie to the students. We tell them the facts that people like Dr. Coyne would prefer to cover up."

Adam Brown's parents say their 16-year-old son's belief in the Bible's creation story isn't deterring him from pursuing a career in marine biology. His parents, Ken and Polly Brown, taught him at their Cedar Grove, Indiana, home using the Apologia curriculum and other science texts.

Polly Brown said her son would gladly take college courses that include evolution, and he'll be able to provide the expected answers even though he disagrees.

"He probably knows it better than the kids who have been taught evolution all through public school," Polly Brown said. "But that is in order for him to understand both sides of that argument because he will face it throughout his higher education."

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Evolution - Show Me the Proof

The famous or infamous reply by creationists to evolution is, "show me the proof". Or if evolution is true where is the crocoduck?

Recently I was emailed a group of amazing pictures. Obviously, these are Photoshopped but never the less they are very cool.

So, for you own amusement or to mess with creationists follow this link to 22 amazing photos of "evolution".

Kansan's with Less Education Want Creationism Taught in Schools

A recently published survey conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas shows that the lower the education achieved the more likely a Kansan is to support the teaching of creationism in Kansas' public schools. The following is excerpted from pages 43-45 of the Kansas Speaks 2009 report:

Some interesting variations were found in opinions of teaching evolution and creationism in public schools between respondents with varying levels of education. Respondents with no college education tended to prefer that either creationism or neither perspectives be taught. Very few of these respondents wanted evolution taught. Respondents with some college, but less than a bachelors degree, were most likely to prefer that both perspectives be taught and were more evenly divided among those preferring that only one of the two perspectives be taught.

Male and upper income respondents tended to prefer that either evolution or both perspectives be taught in public schools, while females and lower income respondents tended to prefer that creationism or neither perspective be taught.

Creationists Continue to Dictate Luisiana Science Education Policy

Press release from the Louisiana Coalition for Science

Baton Rouge, LA, September 28, 2009 — On September 16, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) ignored the recommendations of science education professionals in the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) and allowed the Louisiana Family Forum (LFF), a Religious Right lobbying group, to dictate the procedure concerning complaints about creationist supplementary materials used in public school science classes under the 2008 Louisiana Science Education Act (LSEA). At BESE’s September 16 Student/School Performance and Support (SSPS) Committee  meeting, DOE presented recommendations for reviewing such materials (see attached DOE proposal). However, DOE’s recommendations were amended to include changes proposed by SSPS Committee chair Dale Bayard, the LFF’s point man at BESE (see attached draft). BESE committee members approved the changes without opposition after hearing testimony by creationists who attended the meeting. As a result, the prerogatives of the DOE professional science education staff have been severely undermined, as explained below. The audiotape of the meeting shows that Bayard and the LFF pulled off a royal snow job.

Read the complete text here.

Pastor Gets Partial Credit on Teaching ID in Schools But Fails on Evolution

Image by Colin Purrington via Flickr

I am giving Western Oklahoma Presbyterian Examiner Thomas Spence partial credit for his reason why creationism should not be taught in public schools but a fail on how evolution should be taught. Spence says that intelligent design or any version of creation should not be taught in public schools, which is the way it should be. However, his reasoning is that, "Any version of creation that could be agreed upon by a state department or local board of education will certainly be a sanitized, politically correct version..." Spence then says, "The real issue must be that evolution should be taught only as a theory".

I agree with Spence that we should be teaching our students logic and reasoning but I disagree with his statement that the theory of evolution is based on a broad application of a proportionately small number of facts. Although, I am not an evolutionary scientist even I know that there is a preponderance of facts to support evolution. In Spence's last paragraph though, he tries to sound reasonable with his thoughts on teaching thinking and reasoning skills but that is after he says evolution is based on assumption or premise. Funny, I thought belief was based on assumption and premise, the assumption there is a god and the premise that god is good and loving.

Should intelligent design be taught in public schools? As a Christian and as an American I say without hesitation, absolutely not! Any version of creation that could be agreed upon by a state department or local board of education will certainly be a sanitized, politically correct version of what should be taught by individuals, families, and churches in accordance with the faith and insight of each.

The real issue must be that evolution should be taught only as a theory. It is not a fact. It is an intelligent guess based upon the broadest application of inductive reasoning applied to a proportionately small number of facts. We need to teach our students logic and reasoning before introducing them to theories. The most elemental component of logic is that if the premise is false, then everything that follows can be proven to be true.

Evolution is based upon an assumption or premise. Belief in a divine creation is based on faith. We should address this issue at the core by the direct teaching of thinking and reasoning skills in our schools. When our students can effectively discern what is based in faith, assumption, fact, emotion, theory, or guesswork; then we have better prepared them to use their education regardless of the curriculum.

If You Can't Make It Then Fake It

Image by the mad LOLscientist via Flickr

Science Blogs blogger Brian Switek (Laelaps) writes that the Discovery Institute has once again tricked or improperly used interviews from scientists for another pro-creation movie. The DVD titled, Darwin's Dilemma, "features interviews with leading evolutionary paleontologists such as Simon Conway Morris of Cambridge University and James Valentine of the University of California at Berkeley..." However,  Valentine says he was tricked and Conway Morris says he never gave them an interview nor gave them rights to any interview. It wasn't enough that the tricked Valentine but apparently since they couldn't interview Conway Morris they decided to fake the interview with Conway Morris. Further in Switek's article he quotes from an "ID the Future" podcast that was conducted with the producer who comes off like the typical creationist moron.

Read the full article and see the astounding DVD trailer at Laelaps Science Blog.