Latest Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution

Please provide the textbook name, page number, and paragraph

Go to hell, Anus! Why don't you contribute something intelligent for a change?

Basically nothing here for me folks ...

I wanted to discuss the problems involved in teaching evolution in our public schools ....

I thought you'd be able to at least provide what conclusion psychology has provided about religion

I wanted to discuss the problems involved in teaching evolution in our public schools

I hope it thread gets back on track.

but what conclusions have they drawn from their psychological study of religion?

The argument has nothing to do with that stuff

It is about removing Christian ideas concerning abortion, divorce, birth control, homosexuality, adultery, masturbation, pornography and eugenics from the educational process. And the promotion of those who have majored in an "ology" and the totalitarian state which would result the outlines of which are easily discernable in every post written by an anti-IDer.

Why is it they never read the numerous times I tell them I am not religious ?

They have used "controlling the masses" pejoratively in respect of religion and are unwilling to say, despite being asked, whether they want the masses controlling or not or on the best way to control them if they are in favour of the masses being controlled.

They are the worst example of silly-soddery that I have ever encountered and that's saying something.

Criticisms target evolution in texts
(By WILL SENTELL, Baton Rouge Advocate, Nov 9, 2010)-

Some proposed high school biology textbooks are under fire because critics say they put too much credibility in the theory of evolution, officials said Monday.

A state panel is set to review the issue Friday after Louisiana’s top school board last month delayed action on the textbooks amid questions.

Critics contend some biology I, biology II and other school books under scrutiny for public classrooms put too much credence in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“It is like Charles Darwin and his theory is a saint,” said Winston White, of Baton Rouge, who filed a comment with state officials reviewing the textbooks.

“You can’t touch it,” White said.

But others said the textbook criticism is being led by the Louisiana Family Forum, which touts itself as a group that promotes traditional values.

“They had their people going through the books, writing up complaints and sending them,” said Barbara Forrest, a professor at Southeastern Louisiana University and co-founder of the LA Coalition for Science.

Textbooks for Louisiana’s public schools are typically renewed every seven years.

Samples are made available in public libraries across the state.

A special committee reviews the books, then makes recommendations to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, called BESE.

Last month, BESE approved other science textbooks but delayed action until December on the high school life science books.

The little-known Textbook/Media/Library Advisory Council is supposed to review the issue on Friday, then make a recommendation to the state school board.

Darrell White, who is the father of Winston White and is co-founder of the Louisiana Family Forum, said the proposed biology textbooks he reviewed fail to meet the benchmarks spelled out in a 2009 law aimed at expanding classroom talks on the theory of evolution.

“If this was a beauty contest, we have got all ugly contestants in these biology textbooks,” White said.

Darwin’s theory is that life forms have changed over time by mutations, with the pressure of natural selection determining which species survive.

In written comments to state officials, David Mathers, of West Monroe, said he would “like to see intelligent design explained as an alternate theory to the theory of evolution.”

Intelligent design advocates believe that the universe stems from an intelligent designer, rather than chance.

Curt Eberts, of Monroe, made the same point.

He faulted a biology textbook he reviewed for lacking material on the concept of intelligent design.

But Kash Schriefer, who lives in Ouachita Parish, said he looked at one of the proposed biology textbooks and thought it included needless criticism of Darwin’s views.

“This is the way scientists explain the development of life on our planet,” Schriefer said.

Forrest said she thinks critics hope to get disclaimers added to the textbooks, change their content or pave the way for the inclusion of supplemental materials that challenge Darwin.

“What has happened is that the Louisiana Family Forum is attacking the process of textbook selection,” she said.