Re: Creationists win the schools in New Mexico
Herb Huston (huston@access5.digex.net)
29 Aug 1996 21:15:48 -0400
Followups restricted. Resume crossposting at your own risk.
In article <501fsf$1jue@argo.unm.edu>, Bryant <mycol1@unm.edu> wrote:
}In article <4vtf7i$28o@mailgate.lexis-nexis.com>,
}Christopher C. Wood <christw@lexis-nexis.com> wrote:
}>It was an 8 to 5 vote of the New Mexico State Board of Education,
}>which rejected a move to specify the teaching of evolution in the
}>guidelines it sets for the state's public schools, in meetings on
}>August 20 and 21, 1996. Says the Sante Fe New Mexican.
}>So this does not directly call for the teaching of creationism, it
}>simply removes "evolution" from the concepts that are to be covered in
}>biology courses in New Mexico. At least, that's the way I read the
}>news.
}
}That's correct. Thanks for the clarification. I did correct my
}angry announcement a few days ago, but wasn't sure everybody got it.
}
}I over-reacted intially, but do object to the removal of a requirement to
}teach our kids the central organizing principle of biology.
}
}Just seems to me that we should teach the state of the science as seen by its
}practicioners, rather than allowing ignorant teachers to editorialize instead
}of teach. It's like letting Buddhists teach their "version" of physics
}for the sake of "fairness"... what's fair about misinforming children?
Here's a strategy to consider:
1. Get the names and addresses of the majority members.
2. Go to the library.
3. Find Theodosius Dobzhansky, "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in
the Light of Evolution," _American Biology Teacher_ 35:125-9 (1973).
4. Make eight copies.
5. Mail one to each majority board member.
6. Suggest to others that they do the same.
--
-- Herb Huston
-- huston@access.digex.net
-- http://www.access.digex.net/~huston
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