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mkws
New Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - 08/01/2001 : 19:01:59
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Hawaii's State Board of Education announced last week that at a meeting to be held August 2, they will consider a motion to include the teaching of the "Theory" Of Creationism along with the "Theory" Of Evolution. Several members of the BOE expressed support, as have a number of religious and political leaders. Local paper links @ starbulletin.com & honoluluadvertiser.com
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
 Posted - 08/01/2001 : 22:01:11 [Permalink]
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I always liked the quote from somewhere saying.......
"Evolution is both fact AND theory. Creationism is neither."
Sounds like it's time to bring out the fire hoses. And to remember who's who when the next election rolls around.
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
Groucho Marx. |
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2001 : 23:54:00 [Permalink]
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From the Hawaiian news website http://starbulletin.com
Wednesday, August 1, 2001 Creationism fight looms
The Board of Education has to decide whether to teach the biblical version in science classes
By Treena Shapiro
http://starbulletin.com tshapiro@starbulletin.com
Board of Education members are expecting a hot debate at their
meeting tomorrow over what should be taught in the schools about the origin of
the human race.
The issue at hand is whether to admit alternatives to Darwin's theory of
evolution into the science curriculum in the public schools.
The Regular Education committee on Thursday approved opening up the science
curriculum to other theories, prompting heated discussion over whether public
school science teachers will have to teach the biblical theory of creationism
as part of the state science performance standards.
Kauai board member Sherwood Hara said he has been informed by board
secretaries that many people have signed up to testify at the meeting. One
secretary suggested, "Why don't you bring your sleeping bags?" he said.
Most members contacted yesterday supported teaching various religious
versions of origin, but not as part of the science curriculum.
Member Denise Matsumoto said yesterday that she also opposes mixing
religion and science, but she wants to introduce other theories so that
students will know that evolution was just one of multiple theories, not a
fact.
"The way (evolution) was presented (in the standards), it was just so
matter-of-fact," she said.
Faith-based beliefs have a better place in social studies, drama and the
arts, Matsumoto said.
In the science classes, she suggested teaching theories about the
development of fossils, as well as the old earth theory and the new earth
theory, both of which are creationist models of evolution.
Board member Karen Knudsen, a member of the committee who approved the
change to the performance standards, said the "healthy discussion" that
followed has led her to reconsider her position.
"I think that there is clearly room for discussion of origin, but in
another subject area," she said.
To open the door to multiple theories would not mean just adding
creationism, but various other religious theories of origin as well, thereby
taking class time away from "hard science."
Board members Michael Nakamura and Lex Brodie both said they were opposed
to introducing religion into the state school system.
Marilyn Harris, who was not present at the committee meeting, said she
believes the original wording of the performance standards should be
maintained. "To me this is not a religious question. To me this is a question
of scientific proof. Science is something you can prove or disprove, but
(creationism) is not something you can prove or disprove, so this is not
science.
"If somebody wants to put it into another curriculum, that's another story
altogether," she said. "It could be philosophy, it could be comparative
religions, it could be history. There's all kinds of areas you could put them
into, but science isn't one of them."
Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said students should be taught to
recognize and respect multiple beliefs and explanations regarding the
formation of the universe and life on Earth.
"I would expect them to be taken up in their appropriate place," he said.
He said it is unfortunate that so many people think the goal for some of
these theories is scientific validation. "What's most valuable about
faith-based explanations is that they explain things in a way that science
cannot possibly. The real strength is that it's not science."
Evolution is taught in science classes because it is the singular,
presupposing scientific theory of our time, but it is not taught as fact,
LeMahieu added.
Board Chairman Herbert Watanabe said he has received at least 30 e-mails
opposing the introduction of creationism into the science curriculum. "It will
be a very hot discussion. Whether or not it will go through will be another
matter," he said.
The board will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the Queen Liliuokalani Building
boardroom. It will vote on recommendations for board actions, including
performance standards, at 7 p.m.
================================================
I sent off a letter to them (BOE)to seriously consider the implications of mixing religion in with science in their public classrooms. And of the constitutionality of it all. Also threw in this great link to "Frequently Encountered Criticisms in Evolution vs. Creationism"
http://icarus.uic.edu/~vuletic/cefec.html#1.1
-Randy
"Evolution is both fact AND theory. Creationism is neither."
Edited by - randy on 08/02/2001 15:10:49 |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2001 : 18:42:08 [Permalink]
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This just in:
Board Won't Force Creationism Class
By BRUCE DUNFORD
.c The Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) - The state Board of Education has unanimously rejected a proposal to require Hawaii public schools to teach biblical creationism in science classes.
The board's Education Committee had wanted to include multiple theories of how humans began as part of a performance standard for science. That would have effectively included the belief that God abruptly created life.
Before Thursday's vote, scientists from the University of Hawaii and science teachers ridiculed the idea as an alternative theory to evolution.
``I hope and trust that the majority of the board has the wisdom to ensure that the state of Hawaii does not become the laughing stock of the scientific world,'' said Gareth Wynn-Williams of the university's astronomy program.
Brent White, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, said attempting to include a religious belief in the schools ``is plainly unconstitutional.''
``If you pass this, you will face a lawsuit. And you will lose a lawsuit,'' he said. ``The issue before you tonight has already been decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.''
However, Daniel McGivern of the Hawaii Christian Coalition said the proposed standard was legally sound.
``Constitutionally, the proposed change will pass muster in court because it doesn't specifically mention creationism,'' he said. ``It calls for teaching the science students, quote, the basic idea of multiple theories of origin.''
Sandy Ingram, a biology teacher at Mililani High School, said creationism is based on religion.
``Don't ask me to do my minister's job,'' she said.
AP-NY-08-03-01 1321EDT
The Evil Skeptic
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous. |
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comradebillyboy
Skeptic Friend
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2001 : 01:20:58 [Permalink]
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quote:
This just in:
The state Board of Education has unanimously rejected a proposal to require Hawaii public schools to teach biblical creationism in science classes.
praise the lord!
comrade billyboy |
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mkws
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2001 : 10:56:04 [Permalink]
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It's very cool that this attempt failed, but even more cool that Denise Matsumoto, who presented the proposal to the BOE herself voted against it! Someone must have told her what happened to the Kansas BOE. "It wasn't just me," she complained to reporters, "the whole committee voted (to bring this proposal to the full Board.)" This just proves once again that the highest principle for an elected official is the next election!
Aloha, and thanks for your support.
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2001 : 20:00:22 [Permalink]
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Must of been my persuasive letter to the BOE before the tally. HA!
Glad to hear it turned out the way it did. Each time I hear the biblical arm of irrationality is trying to reach into public schools I start to squirm and fire off letters. I swear they want students to check their brains at the school's front door. Just what the heck do religionist think?
As one quote states, "The day you can start to teach creationism in our public schools is the day scientist can lecture about the science of evolution from your church pulpits".
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
Groucho Marx. |
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