The state Board of Education of South Carolina voted down a proposed revision to the state biology standards that would have required students to study the work of scientists who attempt to poke holes in the theory of evolution.
The full story is here...http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/NEWS01/603090325
I personally do not disagree with discussing the down falls of evolution or the "holes" found within the theory. There are many gaps in evolution, i.e. the missing link. The only problem is passing intellegent design as one of these alternatives. If you can come up with scientific proof of an alternate to evolution then by all means, educate our children on these other theories. But intellegent design IS religion disguised as science and shouldn't be taught in public schools.
So I pose to you, How do you feel about this proposal? Do you feel intellegent design has scientific value? How would you want your children informed?
I believe that public schools need to stick to teaching evolution. There are many biology teachers that discuss the holes of evolution, but from a biological and scientific perspective. I don't think that creationism can logically fill that void.
I'll quote my sister's husband, a fresh immigrant from Germany: "If it isn't science, don't teach it in science class. Plain and simple."
Because a few pages are missing from a book, does that mean you can't get the entire story?
Between fossils, DNA, lab experimentation, etc., gaps in evolution are covered in one form or another depending on the method of study. Discoveries are very carefully researched. Conclusions and theories come from data. Why isn't the theory of gravity under attack?
Magical Design starts with a conclusion and then looks for data to support it, if non-supporting data is discovered, it is ignored. Oh yea, that sounds like the scientific method.
Florida's adding the evolution theory to the curriculum. I suppose it's whatever the state wants to teach the children. It's not a federal issue yet, so it should be fine. I'm not in the mood to argue over something so blown out of proportion just yet.