Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion?

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What emerges most strongly from the pages of Teacher Man is that no amount of government policy or school guidelines matter as much as the simple human dynamic between teacher and taught.It was true in the age of Tom Brown's Schooldays and Mr Chips;it remains true in the age of students who come to school with mobile phones and iPods."

spendius said

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This suggests what I have been saying in various ways all along;that the Dover debate has nothing to do with the kids and is simply a farcical battle played out by idiotic adults for a range of motives some of which I've alluded to from time to time and some of which,no doubt,I haven't thought of yet or found too indecent for the innocent eyes on this thread.None of them give a flying fornication for the kids and,in my view,are in danger of damaging them.

I don't think so, spendie. It suggests something quite true about (what I define as ) good teaching but it doesn't tell us much if anything about content taught, a second aspect which clearly does have importance for the kids too and for future culture.

As a student teacher, I taught a lesson once in Human Origins to a class of 11, 12, and 13 year olds. I reached fairly far past their text materials, setting chairs out in a line (with branches off) across the school football field in sequence (and in proper scale) from australopithecus through to we folks. Each chair held a representation of the version of hominid in question. They understood, so well as I could explain, the tentative nature of these categories, dates and branches. At the end of the lesson, two girls approached me with some anxiety evident in their faces and they asked me "Mr. Latham...but what about the bible story?"

As it happened, I was partnered with another student teacher who was a serious christian and he spoke up saying, "Girls. I agree with you." I just replied that there were two stories here and they could go with either, but that they would have to make some accounting for the bones.

I was not upset that I had upset those two girls. I was delighted. Once bones get dug up, it's too late.

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spendius wrote:

They are but a miniscule speck of faint light on the edge of my radar screen which hasn't moved.

Which is which?

You ninny!!! Parks, the englishman who creates these animations is a genius. If you don't seek out and view Creature Comforts, I will fly over there and beat you to a pulp.

http://cdn.shockwave.com/images/large/picon_af_creature_lrg.jpg

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Oh Bernie.I have seen CC.I noticed the last time that it had been somewhat toned down,neutered if you like,from when I first saw it.Possibly an OBE has been discussed.

After Masked and Anonymous everything outside of sport has started looking like nursery room wallpaper.

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don't think so, spendie. It suggests something quite true about (what I define as ) good teaching but it doesn't tell us much if anything about content taught, a second aspect which clearly does have importance for the kids too and for future culture.

That's just the liberal idealist in you I'm afraid.

Look out kid they keep it all hid.

Something is happening and you don't know what it is do you Mr Jones?And it's right there out front in M&A if you know.

The main thing about teaching is (not think it is) conveying enthusiasm.The kid will do the rest.

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The main thing about teaching is (not think it is) conveying enthusiasm.The kid will do the rest.

It IS the main thing. But what is the ____ he/she enthuses about?

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spendius

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This suggests what I have been saying in various ways all along;that the Dover debate has nothing to do with the kids and is simply a farcical battle played out by idiotic adults for a range of motives

spendi-In your dreams,
All that matters to me is that many American adults take our "idiotic" reasons to heart. If you wish to stand and cast rocks, go for it. I am glad that we still have people passionate enough to stand up for such idiotic causes.I was beginning to worry That the "so what" attitude would be the majority.

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fm-

It's the majority here and the higher the IQ the more effings there are.The only trouble is that this majority is psychologically incapable of getting the best jobs for obvious reasons and so all the idealists,the religionists if you like, get them instead.Which is a good thing really but they also get to write all the newspapers and make all the TV programmes and that helps to make people think that they are the majority.From what I heard your election turn outs are a bit "so effing what!"We won the last three elections here on the first past the post system.Most of the so called idealists are seen as putting on the style to feather their own nests.Half the women,and some of the men,vote for the candidate whose best suit they like most.That's why candidates take great pains over their appearences.

Tell me what use that festival in Dover was to the kids.How good a swimming pool could you have got for $2 million.(Your low estimate).

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Ah, there you are CI. Yes, imagination is the prerequisite for all successful activity--at the heart of both science and art.

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Absolutely!

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spendius
I can at least answer this portion of your last post unequivocally

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Tell me what use that festival in Dover was to the kids.How good a swimming pool could you have got for $2 million.(Your low estimate).

What, with a perfectly good 35000 cfs River right next door? swimming pool? next youll be wanting indoor toilets.

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ROFLMAO; good un, farmerman.

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fm-

Easy wisecracks don't aim to address issues.They aim to slip away from them.The swimming pool was only meant as a symbol and you know it.It improves writing to use a symbol and thus avoid unwieldy lists.

I know where the $2 million is now.

If you hate kids they'll hate you back.

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spendius, you sorta sound like my grandmother. One of the last things she said was
"Why are they insisting on going to the moon?"

Most of the kids "get it" those that dont, are free to continue residing in the world their parents have created for them.
As far as the money spent, much of it got spent in York county.Id venture that the trial was a minor economic engine.

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fm-

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As far as the money spent, much of it got spent in York county.Id venture that the trial was a minor economic engine.

I ventured to suggest that a little while back and that it may become major in the future.

My guess is that I'm more old fashioned than your grandmother but I know why the moon lured.

It's just the same here with the kids.Nothing but pious platitudes diverting resources into the hands of those mouthing them.Education is run for the sole benefit of the professionals engaged in it.

BTW-what does-

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much of it got spent in York county

mean?Funny thing is money.

Have you seen Masked And Anonymous?

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Farmerman

farmerman wrote:

spendius, you sorta sound like my grandmother. One of the last things she said was
"Why are they insisting on going to the moon?"

Most of the kids "get it" those that dont, are free to continue residing in the world their parents have created for them.
As far as the money spent, much of it got spent in York county.Id venture that the trial was a minor economic engine.

We went to the moon to put the Russians in their place after they embarrassed us with Sputnik. In addition to the poke in the eye to the Russians, we learned a lot of scientific value along the way. One time the benefit of unintended consequences paid off.

BBB

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One of the very few times....

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farmerman wrote:

"teaching the controversy" has always been on the sidelines as a valid yet not quite so threatening approach of teaching anti-evolution.

A recent editorial by Eric Baerren for a local newspaper in Michigan gives a concise description of the change in tactics in Kansas:

"The approach taken in Kansas is the new darling of the Creationist movement. There is no mention of Intelligent Design, whose image was badly tarnished in a Pennsylvania courtroom. Instead, they chose a different tack. Mention the holes in evolution, allude to supernatural answers. It's a more subtle way to insinuate Christian philosophy into public school classrooms."

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To identify the "holes" in evolution is the task of evolutionary science. Such holes do not repudiate evolution; they affirm it. They occur within an evolutionary record, analogous to, but obviously not the same as, the principle that exceptions prove the rule.

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JLN, Very well stated. Creationism has nothing to offer.

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wande wrote-

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It's a more subtle way to insinuate Christian philosophy into public school classrooms."

Why the need for a "more subtle" way when not only the classroom but all the institutions of our culture are steeped up to the gills in it as an inescapable fact and despite denials to the contrary.

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By 'Christian' here he probably means fundy Christian

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Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion?

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