Is it just me or does the Kansas State Board of Education suffer from mental retardation?
I realize I stated the topic quite bluntly, but it deserves no less.
Are all of the stereotypes true? Is Kansas seriously a state full of hicks?
Being a resident of Kansas City, I've always marveled over how many Americans seriously think that Kansas is just a big field full of hickish farms. Sadly enough, it might be true. If you didn't know already, the debate over evolution and creationism is only getting worse. Six of the 10 board members have previously endorsed the theory of intelligent design, which says that the universe is so complex it must have been created by a higher force. Advocates of the theory say intelligent design gives students a more balanced view of evolution. President Bush has even weighed in on the issue, and rather unsuprisingly, he thinks that schools should present both concepts when teaching about the origins of life.
However, the fact is that this so-called "intelligent design" is often really just creationism -- a literal reading of the Bible's story of creation -- camouflaged in scientific language. Now its not like I don't believe in God or that I think the Bible is full of shit. I don't believe that AT ALL.
Although the state's new academic standards won't dictate what classroom teachers actually teach (that will be left to the local school boards), many educators worry that the state standards will encourage creationism advocates to pressure their local boards.
If religion is going to be taught anywhere, it should be taught at home or at places of worship. If a Catholic school teaches creationism, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Parents are sending their children to school with the knowledge that the teachings of Catholism will be taught to their children. When parents send their kids to a PUBLIC school, they ARE NOT expecting their children to be taught creationism, or for that matter, any religious beliefs. Now when I say that, I'm not talking about petty matters like the portion of the Pledge of Alleigance that says "under God." If it offends you that much to say God, just skip over the part. But actually teaching kids what the Bible says camoflauged in science shouldn't be allowed. It is up to the student, not the school, to decide what he or she believes.
Are all of the stereotypes true? Is Kansas seriously a state full of hicks?
Being a resident of Kansas City, I've always marveled over how many Americans seriously think that Kansas is just a big field full of hickish farms. Sadly enough, it might be true. If you didn't know already, the debate over evolution and creationism is only getting worse. Six of the 10 board members have previously endorsed the theory of intelligent design, which says that the universe is so complex it must have been created by a higher force. Advocates of the theory say intelligent design gives students a more balanced view of evolution. President Bush has even weighed in on the issue, and rather unsuprisingly, he thinks that schools should present both concepts when teaching about the origins of life.
However, the fact is that this so-called "intelligent design" is often really just creationism -- a literal reading of the Bible's story of creation -- camouflaged in scientific language. Now its not like I don't believe in God or that I think the Bible is full of shit. I don't believe that AT ALL.
Although the state's new academic standards won't dictate what classroom teachers actually teach (that will be left to the local school boards), many educators worry that the state standards will encourage creationism advocates to pressure their local boards.
"At some point, teachers in some districts are going to say it's not worth the hassle," said Ken Bingman, who teaches biology at Blue Valley West High School in the Kansas City area.
Now just the prospect of the state board of education dictating what we should believe is horrendous (even if the dictatorship is indirect). I mean, wasn't the seperation of church and state the basis of our government? Are we just going to forget all of our morals and do what the ultra-conservative Republicans think we should do? I think not.If religion is going to be taught anywhere, it should be taught at home or at places of worship. If a Catholic school teaches creationism, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Parents are sending their children to school with the knowledge that the teachings of Catholism will be taught to their children. When parents send their kids to a PUBLIC school, they ARE NOT expecting their children to be taught creationism, or for that matter, any religious beliefs. Now when I say that, I'm not talking about petty matters like the portion of the Pledge of Alleigance that says "under God." If it offends you that much to say God, just skip over the part. But actually teaching kids what the Bible says camoflauged in science shouldn't be allowed. It is up to the student, not the school, to decide what he or she believes.
