Those who don't want to teach science in science class but instead want to teach creative writing (I'm guessing that's what "Intelligent Design" would have to be called, since they SWEAR it's not theology?) went down in flames in yesterday's school board election in Pennsylvania, and election results from another school board in Minnesota also not so good for the IDiots. Good news, by and large.
Not so in Kansas. (I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.) And who better to tell us about it than PZ Myers at Pharyngula?
There is a straightforward body of evidence for evolution to which students should be introduced—evidence that high school curricula barely touch on as it is. Adding a collection of false and confusing claims about what scientists say is only going to diminish the legitimate science that can be taught. And teaching absurdities, such as that science deals with the supernatural, represents a load of garbage that instructors at the college level are going to have to scoop out of the brains of these poor students. At least, that is, out of the diminishing number of students who will pursue genuine science, rather than the dead-end vapor of Intelligent Design creationism.
Goodbye, Kansas. I don't expect to see many of your sons and daughters at my university in coming years, unless the teachers of your state refuse to support the outrageous crapola their school board has foisted on them. I hope the rest of the country moves on, refusing to join you in your stagnant backwater of 18th century hokum.
In closing, some thoughts on Kansas from Josh Rosenau at Thoughts From Kansas:
Welcome to the world of tomorrow. People on the street really are more moral now in Kansas. The sky is brighter, cars can fly and all our financial questions have been answered. Intelligent Accounting!
We should all move there. It sounds so nice. Here, have some nice Kool-Aid.
Please don't say goodbye to Kansas-I really think high school kids take that the whole thing with a large grain of salt-what else could they do in Kansas? We are surrounded by soil full of fossils and yet the state school board refuses to notice it. It is an embarrassment to most of the state's citizens to have a school board with such actions. I think most of the problem is the voting block that elects them and the majority of the state doesn't even register or show up at the polls if they are registered. It runs all the way down to the local levels with the good ole boy attitude. Oops I forgot my house is bugged-oh well they know where I am, especially since I am one of the few democrats in this county. PS: couldn't believe your pictures of the aftermath of your male's surgery-OMG I pray my male mastff rescue never gets cysturnia? which is in mastiffs also. Give those deerhounds a big hug from me-I still haven't heard if Barb and Richard are having pups this year-I hope so-it didn't work out for me to get one last year. Keep on writing-there are a few sane Kansans out here-well mostly sane!!!
Posted by: susan k | 25 February 2006 at 09:23 PM