Hullabaloo

Thursday, June 07, 2007

 
For Those Who Thought Kitzmiller Killed "Intelligent Design" Creationism

by tristero

It's baaack:

Science textbook statement from [Chesterfield County, Virginia] School Board Chair Thomas J. Doland (cont.)
"We have received much interest and concern from our citizens relating to the theory of evolution as taught in our science classes. It is the School Board's belief that this topic, along with all other topics that raise differences of thought and opinion, should receive the thorough and unrestricted study as we have just articulated. Accordingly, we direct our superintendent to charge those of our professionals who support curriculum development and implementation with the responsibility to investigate and develop processes that encompass a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of these topics.

To which Ed Brayton says:

Looks to me like they are going to develop supplemental materials, outside of the textbooks they approved, to put ID into science classrooms along with evolution. If they do so, of course, a lawsuit will be filed immediately and it will end up costing the school board a whole lot of money. They have been led in to the Dover Trap and the result will likely be the same. They would be wise to step back from the precipice on this one.

While this looks doomed to failure (and one that decent taxpayers in Chesterfield County will be forced to pay dearly for if they go through with this), there is something more insidious afoot. PZ Myers informs us that Discovery Institute has just published a 150 page piece of trash called "Explore Evolution." Its particular scam is that it doesn't mention God and it also doesn't mention "intelligent design" creationism. What it does do is use outdated and misleading information to bash evolution to "teach the controversy" where there isn't one:

The embryology chaper, for instance, has a "case for" that only talks about Haeckel, as if that were the most interesting and informative and sole example of modern developmental biology they could find...I know the creationists are infatuated with Haeckel, but get over it, please. It's an obsolete theory that was proposed about 140 years ago, was discarded in the 19th century, and is only mentioned to dismiss it in modern textbooks. They couldn't find anything current and interesting in modern developmental biology to discuss, but had to go dig up that antique, again? Presenting modern development through the distorting lens of Haeckel is simply dishonest and misleading.

Why should you care about this? Because, the war against science has been on the leading edge of the development of rightwing rhetoric that then gets transferred to other fronts. For instance, the "out-liberal the liberals" technique was perfected by creationists. Here are some fresh examples which were also quoted in Ed Brayton's blogpost:

"Our children are not being educated; they are being indoctrinated," said Cathleen Waagner. "Let the evidence speak for itself and let [the students] draw their own conclusions."

Another speaker, Michael Slagle, presented a document containing 700 signatures of scientists worldwide who have questioned the validity of evolution.

"Students are being excluded from scientific debate. It's time to bring this debate into the classroom," he said.

I would like to remind everyone that when it comes to "intelligent design" creationism, there is no debate and there is no controversy: scientists agree that it is garbage. What about those 700 scientists who have questioned the validity of evolution, you ask? Well, take a look at Project Steve which demonstrates exactly how idiotic this kind of argument is. According to NCSE, only about 1% of all scientists are named Steve. As of 5/21/07 810 scientists named Steve had signed up in support of evolution.

What makes this so damn infuriating is that the theory of evolution is one of the most awe-inspiring concepts I know. And Darwin's life is a model for how someone born into privileged circumstances should spend his/her time - a welcome contrast, if ever there was one, to the laziness and incuriousity of the current occupant of the White House. For schoolchildren should be denied the opportunity to receive a clear, unambiguous explanation of evolution - that truly is a mind crime of the worst sort. Yet that is what creationists have perpetrated. Rather than risk the kind of crap that's going on in Virginia, schools simply avoid the topic of evolution altogether, as they did for some 25 years plus after Scopes.

But lets end this post on a positive note. If you want to learn exactly how beautiful a theory natural selection is, then pick up The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution by Sean B Carroll. A great, great book about evidence for evolution that, of course, Darwin never knew about, the evidence in our genes. Carroll presents his arguments brilliantly and succinctly. Perhaps it's a little intense for high school but if you've had even a taste of college-level science, you are going to love this book.

tristero 6/07/2007 04:55:00 PM |