Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Friday, March 24, 2006
U.S. Education
This is just tragic. (emphasis mine)

Teachers at his facility are forbidden to use the “e-word” (evolution) with the kids.
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But Bob’s personal issue was more specific, and the prohibition more insidious. In his words, “I am instructed NOT to use hard numbers when telling kids how old rocks are. I am supposed to say that these rocks are VERY VERY OLD ... but I am NOT to say that these rocks are thought to be about 300 million years old.”
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The explanation that had been given to Bob by his supervisors was that their science facility is in a delicate position and must avoid irritating some religious fundamentalists who may have their fingers on the purse strings of various school districts. Apparently his supervisors feared that teachers or parents might be offended if Bob taught their children about the age of rocks and that it would result in another school district pulling out of their program.
At a time in our nation's history when we need the brightest scientific minds to solve the greatest threats to our world, American teachers are being held hostage by the American Taliban. Tragic is the only word that describes it.
Written at 5:02 AM by Lynne.
1 comments
1 Comments:
Blogger Greyhair said...
The interesting part of all this type of censorship is that we're creating second class citizens in this country.

The science community knows this religious junk is nonsense. Those who actually do the research know who to hire, and who to avoid. Those kids restricted to this kind of teaching will, indeed, have a more difficult time later in college and the job market.

But hey, maybe that's evolution in action!
12:52 PM  
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