tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post4952256084667986358..comments2024-03-04T05:55:35.225-05:00Comments on Vital Remnants: Louisiana Senate passes Science Education ActMartin Cothranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-2060449045556787542008-06-20T00:05:00.000-04:002008-06-20T00:05:00.000-04:00Art,Sorry, but that sounds like pure paranoia. Th...Art,<BR/><BR/>Sorry, but that sounds like pure paranoia. There is nothing in the language you quote that mandates that teachers do any of the things you are concerned that they might do, nor does it appear to overturn any current prohibitions on doing those things.<BR/><BR/>Are you seriously saying you think teachers should be prohibited from using "textbooks and other instructional materials toMartin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-61573244259370874102008-06-19T21:02:00.000-04:002008-06-19T21:02:00.000-04:00“Provides that a teacher shall teach material pres...“Provides that a teacher shall teach material presented in the standard textbook supplied by the school system and thereafter may use textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, as permitted by the local school board.”<BR/><BR/>So, a teacher is free to teach his students that evolution is false,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-83316296125560517642008-06-19T15:42:00.000-04:002008-06-19T15:42:00.000-04:00Art,I have a copy of the bill. Could you point to...Art,<BR/><BR/>I have a copy of the bill. Could you point to the statutory language that would force regulatory agencies to do these things?Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-89759325921056408462008-06-19T08:21:00.000-04:002008-06-19T08:21:00.000-04:00Hi Martin,I've been trying to stick to the DI mant...Hi Martin,<BR/><BR/>I've been trying to stick to the DI mantra when it comes to education. They insist that their efforts (such as are behind the bill in La.) are not about teaching ID, but rather about "teaching the controversy". That's why I remarked (in so many words) that you weren't getting my point.<BR/><BR/>The problem with the bill we're discussing is that it allows teachers (such as Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-48293595817840621292008-06-19T00:08:00.000-04:002008-06-19T00:08:00.000-04:00Art,How can what I said be "not even close" to wha...Art,<BR/><BR/>How can what I said be "not even close" to what you are saying when I was directly quoting you? Not only was it close to what you were saying, it was exactly what you said.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, I think your analogy between a history teacher who teaches that Jesus was not a historical figure and a teacher teaches ID in the classroom is not a relevant analogy (at least where I am Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-3062460104055390502008-06-18T08:39:00.000-04:002008-06-18T08:39:00.000-04:00Hi Martin,You said "But the logical force of your ...Hi Martin,<BR/><BR/>You said "But the logical force of your argument depends upon my acceptance of your assumption that Intelligent Design is "flat-out wrong, incorrect, even dishonest" is true.". That's not even close to what I am saying. Scientifically, ID is an empty vessel. What is "flat-out wrong, incorrect, even dishonest" is the DI approach to teaching evolution. <BR/><BR/>Of course, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-38451633337996299092008-06-17T13:33:00.000-04:002008-06-17T13:33:00.000-04:00Art,I think you are frustrated because I do not fe...Art,<BR/><BR/>I think you are frustrated because I do not feel the logical force of your argument. But the logical force of your argument depends upon my acceptance of your assumption that Intelligent Design is "flat-out wrong, incorrect, even dishonest" is true. But I don't accept that assumption, so I am not feeling the logical force of your argument.Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-80282489539854208262008-06-17T08:43:00.000-04:002008-06-17T08:43:00.000-04:00Hi Martin,You're being coy and evasive, so let's s...Hi Martin,<BR/><BR/>You're being coy and evasive, so let's see if I can summarize your stance. Feel free to correct me.<BR/><BR/>You seem to have no problems with the teaching of bad science - flat-out wrong, incorrect, even dishonest - in (y)our schools. (I'm glad to expand on the list of blatant errors and dishonesties that your DI handlers expect you to support - just let me know.) I'll Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-78708959294023893082008-06-16T23:55:00.000-04:002008-06-16T23:55:00.000-04:00Art,I'm trying to figure out what it is about prom...Art,<BR/><BR/>I'm trying to figure out what it is about promoting critical thinking and logical analysis that would make it any easier to teach bad history.Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-67434065644564243402008-06-16T23:22:00.000-04:002008-06-16T23:22:00.000-04:00Hi Martin,Good question. I guess when you compare...Hi Martin,<BR/><BR/>Good question. I guess when you compare the idea with the litany of anti-evolutionary arguments that your handlers at the Discovery Institute are wishing upon the schools in Louisiana, I would say that "Jesus was not a real person" comes out way ahead in the credibility department.<BR/><BR/>Martin, would you stand up for such teachers (those who tell your kids that Jesus was Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-91748297967231520182008-06-16T18:13:00.000-04:002008-06-16T18:13:00.000-04:00Art,Are you saying that the idea that Jesus was no...Art,<BR/><BR/>Are you saying that the idea that Jesus was not a real person is a nutty idea?Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-43293789941640458552008-06-16T17:44:00.000-04:002008-06-16T17:44:00.000-04:00Wonderful. Now perhaps teachers brave enough to t...Wonderful. Now perhaps teachers brave enough to teach that Jesus was not a real person will have legal recourse when they are persecuted by their communities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-8033284243775039862008-06-16T17:33:00.000-04:002008-06-16T17:33:00.000-04:00Nutty ideas in public schools? Never heard of suc...Nutty ideas in public schools? Never heard of such a thing.Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-91127493781466440422008-06-16T17:22:00.000-04:002008-06-16T17:22:00.000-04:00Teach the controversyhttp://controversy.wearscienc...Teach the controversy<BR/>http://controversy.wearscience.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-34451638067352984892008-06-16T17:17:00.000-04:002008-06-16T17:17:00.000-04:00The law allows teachers to bring in any nutty idea...The law allows teachers to bring in any nutty idea they want when they are supposed to be teaching science. No one is being fooled by the rather specific list of science subjects singled out by the creationists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com