| Author |
Message |
    
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 133
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 1, 2003 - 2:27 pm: |     |
Schools balance science, faith in study of life's origins
Friday, August 01, 2003
By Cami Reister
The Grand Rapids Press
When Byron Center High School students start studying theories on the origin of life in biology class, their teacher will tell them about evolution and creationism.
"We do propose them both as theory," said Ellen Karel, head of the science department. "Because of the makeup of our community, we look at both the pros and cons and the scientific facts that support both theories."
As some lawmakers once again push to require that creationism be included in public-school lessons, teachers in Byron Center and elsewhere are well ahead of them. Others, however, are lining up in opposition, following Thursday's news that the effort has been rekindled in Lansing.
A state House bill -- co-sponsored by several West Michigan Republicans -- would require that every middle and high school student who studies evolution also be taught intelligent design: the theory that "life is the result of the purposeful, intelligent design of a Creator."
A similar bill died in the House last year, and some educators would like to see this effort meet a similar fate.
"I think it won't be good for science," said John Howarth, science curriculum supervisor for Grand Rapids Public Schools. "What's good is helping students to be a good judge of evidence and come up with conclusions, and I don't think that would do that."
Howarth said he used to bring in speakers to talk about competing theories when he was a teacher, "but that's not the same as someone saying you've got to teach it."
Most area school districts rely on the Michigan Curriculum Framework to guide science instruction because that is what is tested in the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP).
The framework requires students to be able to "explain how scientists construct and scientifically test theories concerning the origin of life and evolution of species; compare ways that living organisms are suited to survive and reproduce in their environments and explain how species change through time."
Educators say it leaves a lot of leeway for an issue that can be controversial.
In Byron Center, Karel said that, on average, up to three parents a year come in to ask about the school's teaching of evolution.
"I do not believe, in 15 years, we've ever had any students pulled out because of that," she said.
In Holland six years ago, a parent complained that a world history textbook's anthropological explanation for the origin of the world was presented as hard fact, precluding other interpretations. The complaint resulted in a new policy that allows creationism to be thrown into the discussion.
"We think our students should be presented with evidence for and against any viewpoint on origins," said Larry Gavette, a Holland board member who spearheaded the writing of a new policy. "They deserve to be able to judge the strengths and weaknesses of every opinion."
Christine Burns, curriculum director for Caledonia Community Schools, said the curriculum there already allows discussion of other theories. If lawmakers are concerned that schools are teaching as truth that man descended from apes, she said, it doesn't happen.
"I don't think schools teach that as truth," she said. "They teach that as one of the theories, but there's also dialogue of other origins of life."
Many educators said no matter what the teachers offer, if a student asks a question about other theories - religious or otherwise - they will engage in a discussion.
"We try to be respectful of students' and families' religious beliefs, and we don't ever tell them that if that's their family's belief that it's wrong," Burns said. "You've got to make your own decisions."
In Grand Rapids, Howarth said middle schools don't really go into human evolution, but not by a conscious decision.
"There's so much material to go into, what we're trying to do is go in depth on what we already do," he said. "It just isn't a topic that we tend to do."
At the high school level, Howarth said human evolution is addressed in the textbook, but it's up to the teachers how much they cover it with students.
When it does get covered, it is done so as a theory.
"We're saying this is possible," he said. "It doesn't mean that's a fact. It's a more logical explanation using scientific criteria than anything else we've been able to come up with."
In the Christian schools, students are taught about evolution as change over time, but not as a theory of the origin of life.
"Whether he did it in seven, 24-hour days or over the course of thousands of years is not as important that he is the creator and he's still in control of his creation," said Bill Van Dyk, principal of Zeeland Christian School.
Ben Boerkoel, director of curriculum for Grand Rapids Christian Schools, said they advocate creationism, "but we recognize that evolution also can be part of the creative process."
Boerkoel said the school system has a statement on evolution that says evolution as a theory on the origin of life is unacceptable, but the process of evolution as change over time is "well documented and accepted scientifically and presents no religious conflict with our belief in God as creator."
Boerkoel was supportive of the legislation.
"I think it's important for the classroom teachers to present creation as one of the beliefs about origins," he said. "I don't think it's appropriate for them to advocate for either one of those in the public sector.
"As a matter of information, it's perfectly legitimate to teach about religion, but it's not appropriate to advocate."
Press reporter Kym Reinstadler contributed to this report.
|
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1323
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 1, 2003 - 4:05 pm: | |
As my son said the other day, "God must love stupid people, cause there sure are an awful lot of them in this world." |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 529
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 1, 2003 - 4:22 pm: | |
Hard to believe we're still revisiting the Scopes trial after nearly a hundred years, isn't it.... |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1080
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 1, 2003 - 5:10 pm: | |
I'd like to learn about something that competes with the Theory of Gravity.
I mean, it IS just a theory... |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page