Lawmaker Urges School Board To Call Evolution A 'Theory'

[TrogL]

Source: Associated Press

A Florida Panhandle lawmaker has urged the State Board of Education to call evolution a theory in revised science standards the panel will consider later this month.

The proposed standards for the first time would use the word evolution instead of such terms as biological changes over time. They would also require more in-depth study of evolution and other science topics while setting specific benchmarks for students to meet.

The standards have drawn fire from religious conservatives who believe evolution conflicts with the biblical account of creation. Current standards do require teaching some evolution, but don't use that word. It is used in text books.




Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/15225704/detail.html

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:wtf:

Believe or not, this is actually progress. He's proposing to actually call evolution "evolution" instead of using weasel words. The textbooks use the word, but the teachers aren't allowed to say it in class, near as I can make out.

:crazy:

[opihimoimoi]

1. What do we call Group Insanity...clinging to Fantasy?.....Delusional ?

:toast:

Good to see you still on board...where the hell is enki? La?

[superconnected]

20. Republicanism.

[MichiganVote]

2. That works. A theory of evolution is....

A scientific theory is a careful attempt to explain certain observable facts of nature by means of experiments.

[formercia]

30. The law of GOD

Theory vs Law. Didn't you know, the King James version is the Bible Jesus would use if he were alive today? :sarcasm:

[sakabatou]

3. It's a theory...

JUST LIKE GRAVITY.

[Demeter]

5. "Gravity: Not Just a Good Idea--It's the Law!"

[MnFats]

38. Can you SEE gravity? Hmmmm? I thought so! All on the rocket slide to the lake...

...llake o' fire, that is!










(i don'e need to say 'sarcasm,' do i?

[grytpype]

4. Keep fighting, Florida!

[Dr.Phool]

6. Dear dickwad legislator....

It's never been taught as anything other than a theory. You know, kinda like the Gravitation theory or Music theory.

A theory is a WORKING description of a studied natural phenomenon. The key word is working. If it doesn't work it's wrong.

I think he's thinking of a hypothesis, but doesn't have the vocabulary to know the word. In other words a typical Florida legislator.

[The Croquist]

9. Either you or I misunderstood the lawmaker

It sounds to me like he is being very reasonable. He wants them to call it "evolution" not "biological changes over time". The fact that he wants the word "theory" attached is fine. "Evolution" is a theory not a fact. The "heliocentric theory" of the solar system is not a fact it is a theory. The fact that, so far, it has always explained observations does not make it a fact.
One weird thing. the lawmaker is not named in the article. That's either poor journalism or fishy.

[Dr.Phool]

12. The heliocentric theory is not a theory.

It's been proven wrong, so at best it's a failed hypothesis.

And the theory of evolution is about as close to a proven fact as anything in science. It's the bedrock of most science today.

[ForPeace]

16. Heliocentric means the sun is the center of the solar system

If that's been disproved please provide a link. It's mind-boggling!

[The Croquist]

34. Thank you. EOM

[harun]

13. I think we are seeing a few knee jerk reactions here

Calling it a theory is reasonable because..... (yes ladies and gents).... it is a theory.

[TrogL]

15. Hey, I didn't write the article

The title is misleading. As you pointed out, the lawmaker isn't named.

[fascisthunter]

7. "Gravity"... and I'd Like This Lawmaker to Prove it False...

personally

[CRK7376]

8. Cool!!!!

Anything to upset the religious wacko crowd. Go Evolution!

[mike_c]

10. sheesh-- the only thing remarkable about this...

...is the unnamed "lawmaker's" ignorance of what the term theory means in science. That's not particularly surprising. I wonder why he/she is not identified in the (very brief) story?

[whistle]

11. Florida RW politicians are really taking us back into the dark ages

[melody]

14. Melody Urges School Board to Call Lawmaker A "Moron"

And that's being polite.

[biggles1]

17. "Theory", "fact", "law", "hypothesis".....

People get hung up on the terminolgy a little. What pleases me is the decision to describe the area of study as "evolution" and not some vague, watered-down substitute.

It is correctly labeled as the "theory" of evolution (rather than "law") because that term best describes (in science) its function. A scientific theory represents the best available explanation of a set of observed phenomena. However, given that new knowledge may one day require an expansion of that explanation (to include the new data), a theory permits such flexibility (eg, Einstein's work required that the Newtonian theories be expanded to include the new knowledge). The 'robustness' of a theory is demonstrated in it's scope to be so expanded, whilst still remaining valid for the original observations.

The Theory of Evolution has proven remarkably robust in this regard for nearly 150 years.

[callous taoboy]

22. Spot on, biggles1. This is from "Defending Evolution" by Alters and Alters-

On why students should learn evolution:
"...evolution is the basic context for all of the biological sciences. Take away this context, and all that is left is disparate facts without the thread that ties them all together. Put another way, evolution is the explanatory framework, the unifying theory. It is indispensable to the study of biology, just as the atomic theory is indispensable to the study of chemistry."

On theory and law:
"Creationists mislead students as to the meaning of the words scientific theory, and in so doing, attempt to demean the status of evolution as taught in the science classroom. Many creationists tell students that the difference between a theory and a law is that a theory is merely a hypothesis that has been tested successfully numerous times. A law is nearly (or is) a scientific fact because it has been successfully tested many times. After establishing these definitions the students are encouraged to consider that evolution is not a law but only a theory, therefore setting evolution into a supposedly inferior category than if it were a law. Because evolution is only a theory - not something that is considered factual in the scientific community - opposing theories should also be presented, such as scientific creationism. Understandably, to many students (and others), the argument sounds quite compelling.

This unfortunate characterization of the scientific use of the words theory and law has led students to believe that if scientific theories had enough evidence and were tested sufficiently with resulting supporting outcomes, then scientific theories would become scientific laws...

These misconceptions of the meanings of the words theory and law are reinforced by the meaning of the word theory as something that is not factual - as merely a guess without any or with very little supporting evidence. This use of the word is so ingrained in our culture that even many scientists, when casually speaking, will use the term theory in the same way that the general public uses the word. However, when scientists communicate in a more scientifically exacting manner in research journals, they normally use it to mean an explanation of phenomena that have been rigorously tested, and they use the word law to mean a descriptive generalization of phenomena. No matter how extensively a theory is tested and despite incontrovertible data supporting its accuracy, a theory does not become law (i.e. explanations do not become descriptions)."

[alarimer]

26. I wonder if the lawmaker is using it in this sense

or in the more common sense to mean "something unproven". If he means to use the work theory in your definition, then he is correct and this is a good idea.

[downindixie]

18. Its ok to call it a theory as long as

as they call the bible a fable!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. Or at least as long as they don't call the bible a theory...

because the word "theory" really shouldn't be sloppily applied to random conjecture.

[Solly Mack]

19. that's actually amusing

when you consider that it already is the theory of evolution

though I know some people have a hard time grasping the difference between what science means by theory and Joe Blow claiming , "I have a theory..."

[The Croquist]

35. I agree

There is a big difference between a scientific theory and what Joe Blow calls a theory but just because many people don't know what a theory is doesn't negate the meaning of the word or provide an excuse to mis-use it. When I was in high school we were taught what a theory was (I'm 51 now). Evolution is a theory. The "Hollow Earth Theory" is not a theory.

Some dis proven theories were fine in their day. The geocentric model of the universe was fine until evidence was obtained contradicting it. The fact that that evidence was suppressed was not the, long dead, proposers of the theory's fault. It was the fault of the Catholic church and the scientists who ignored the data.

The germ theory overturned thousands of years of medical ideas but that didn't make the early physicians stupid. They did the best with what knowledge they had. They found herbs that seemed to help. Some recommended cleanliness and fresh air. They didn't know why it worked but it seemed to help.

[Roland99]

21. "Florida Panhandle". 'nuff said.

[boricua79]

23. lawmaker urges school board to call gravity "a theory"

and replace the curriculum with the theory of "intelligent pulling by God". :sarcasm:

Freaking MORAN!

[Bush_MUST_Go]

24. This "lawmaker" paints the fundies into a corner.....

How can the fundies argue against this without further isolating themselves from reasonably American citizens?

[AnneD]

25. I just had a mental image....

of God asking Adam to pull his finger. Boy that would separate day from night . land from sea, and heaven from night in a hurry.

[bhikkhu]

28. Absolutely as it should be..."theories" are often quite respectable

I would like to see added that students be taught what a theory is, however, and then given a good grounding in the scientific method. Arguments that evolution should be taught as essentially a dogma do not come from credible scientists, and do nothing for students in need of a basic understanding of how things are done.

[pnorman]

29. Fine with me, provided that.......

....the Book of Genesis is also described as a Fairy Tale.

pnorman

[The Croquist]

36. The Book of Genesis shouldn't be described as a Fairy Tale.

It shouldn't be mentioned at all.

[pnorman]

40. I strongly DISAGREE

I'm "of the left", but NOT of the Leninist variety. If those card-carrying Christians wish to bring their belief system into public discourse, that's fine with me. But let them do it under accepted rules of free and open discourse, or NOT AT ALL. They may be written in stone in their houses of worship, but NOT in public schools.

pnoeman
PS: I now realize that I had misunderstood the tenor of the lead posting, but no matter.

[The Backlash Cometh]

31. Isn't it funny that states that have such a strong intrusion of religion in

government, also have hidden networks that corrupt the governmental process?

Could these people be one and the same?

[TalkingDog]

32. Now if we can just get them to call themselves what they've always been

JackAsses.


Utter Expasperation does not even begin to describe my reaction to these people.

Good God. No wonder our country is in the shape it's in. People are idiots.


IT'S A THEORY!!!! IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A THEORY!!!!! AAAAGHGHGHGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!@!!!!!!! (tears at hair, strokes out)


My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[Thor_MN]

33. I have no issues with Evolution by it's proper class, Theory. As long as

Creationism, Intelligent Design or whatever they come up with next is placed by it's proper class, Myth. I wouldn't even have any issue if they spent the majority of the time talking about creation myths on Xtian creation myth as long as they acknowledge that it's one amongst many creation myths and not even the most popular world wide.

Of course, there should be zero time spent in science classes talking about creation myths, mytholgy belongs in the realm of literature, not science.

[sofa king]

37. Okay by me.

[Megahurtz]

39. Fucking Fundy Idiots!

MEN wrote the Bible stupid dumbasses!

:rant:

Sorry but apparently it keeps having to be said over and over.

[cstanleytech]

41. Odd, I was taught years ago

that it was a theory so whats the difference exactly from then and now?
After all its still a theory and still the most plausible to date compared to the wayyyyyy out there one involving a "higher power with a grand scheme".

[sarcasmo]

42. This Country becomes more idiotic by the minute.