Comments on: Your letter to your child’s biology teacher

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:43:31 +0000

April, you are dangerously misinformed. Well, you were last September, anyway.

By: Renak

Renak — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:25:41 +0000

I have taught biology for 11 years in Kansas. I have never been involved in a controversial interaction with a parent. But if a parent or student ever suggests that I “teach the controversy” or “give equal time”, I will suggest that I do that at their church/sunday school. That way it doesn’t take time from my curriculum.

By: April

April — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:17:08 +0000

Students and teachers DO have certain freedoms to speak.The National Center for Science Education, the leading advocate of teaching evolution in government schools, admits that the courts have established only five basic standards:

1. Supervisors may forbid teaching creation.
2. Supervisors may not forbid teaching evolution.
3. Supervisors may require teaching evolution.
4. Supervisors may not require teaching creation.
5. Whatever is done, it may not be done dogmatically.

SO in reality it is up to the supervisor unless a law has been passed in your city. THis is not a federal law.

By: April F

April F — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:11:22 +0000

It is absolutely legal in our school district for government schools (public school) to teach the controversy. In fact there sas an election last year on whether to continue to teach the controversey or not and there was over 80% that did want it. SO they kept it. I am actually pleased with the decision as children should be exposed to both sides.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:28:18 +0000

Greg, there is a process in the US. Teachers are busy and need to attend to the process, which means covering the state-wide standards. You are asking teachers to fail to do their jobs.

By: Stephanie Z

Stephanie Z — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:08:31 +0000

Greg, a science class is not a group of practicing scientist, as you seem to imply. Nobody is imposing bounds on scientists by saying that teachers need to cover the subject they were hired and put in place to cover and the curriculum decided upon by national, state and local educational authorities or to respect the bounds imposed by the Constitution and the courts.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:14:59 +0000

I value your belief. It enriches the diversity in theories explored. But I have always imagined dictators doing the same in their effort to push or impose ideas. Do it for your children! Even emotional keys used. And how arrogant to assume other children need to be spared. Who and what entitles you to make that choice on behalf of other people? It is not your job. Let science be science and allow the reasoning and arguments of both/or more to be explored. By being so singular in thought your doing a whole lot more damage to the field of science, by being exactly what it teaches not to be, biased in anyway, leaving space for continual evaluation and investigation. Grow up it is not a mud fight, this is not kindergarten.

By: chuck13

chuck13 — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:22:02 +0000

I would love to be a snarky kid in front of a teacher trying to teach ID knowing what I know now. Like “if that designer is so intelligent how come people aren’t solar powered so we woildn’t have to eat and poop all the time, ya know?”

By: Amy M.

Amy M. — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:54:11 +0000

I just sent a link and a note, “what he said”.

By: DuWayne

DuWayne — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:29:49 +0000

Amph –

You could just rewrite the letter to suit your voice. I tend to eschew form letters for my own voice (even when I have to avoid expletives).