Barbarian observes:
It's unconstitutional for public schools to promote religion. The "equal time" ploy died a long time ago. So long as freedom of religion is in the Constitution, that's not going to happen.
No one is saying we should preach the bible to young students.
Yes, a lot of people are saying that. But of course teaching creationism to students is not teaching the Bible. YE creationism is not consistent with the Bible. It is a religion, however, and therefore not permitted to be taught in public school.
The scientific view from the creationist standpoint should be represented, though.
The creationist standpoint is a religion, not science, since it depends on faith in their new doctrine.
Rather, the interpretation of the data.
Sorry, I'm not a postmodernist, so the "reality is whatever we think it is" story doesn't work with me.
Under your description, Evolution wouldn't be taught either.
That ploy was tried and failed. Science isn't religion, and religion isn't science.
Barbarian observes:
Science is what scientists do. You might like it or not like it, but pretending that a revised version of Genesis can be taught along with real science, that's just not going to work.
Yes, and I know scientists who are also creationists.
I knew of several. Some of them did good work, so long as it didn't impact on their religious beliefs.
No need to revise Genesis.
But creationists do. And that's a big part of the problem.
Not many Evolutionary scientists will admit that there are Creationist scientists, proving my point.
If you think so, you don't know many scientists. Someone's abused your trust on that one.
Barbarian on Hamm's method of indoctrination:
Practices it, too. One of his objections to public school is the idea that people should think for themselves.
All of us practice it to some degree or another.
Probably so. Hamm is different in objecting to the idea of students being taught to think for themselves.
Like I said, if Kent wants to have a private school where all they teach is creation, thats okay. As long as my tax dollars aren't go towards it.
Private schools are not required to observe the Bill of Rights with regard to religion. So they can teach creation or alternately teach creationism, or whatever other religion they like. Public schools can't teach religion.
When the publics money is involved, both views need to be taught.
Nope. So long as we retain our freedom of religion, it won't be taught in public schools.
If you want to open an Evolution only private school, I would vote for your right to do so.
It's quite legal to teach science in public schools. Your argument has been tried, and it failed the constitutional test. No point in denying it.
It certainly is true of civics classes, which teach the principles upon which our country was founded. It wouldn't work so well in science, though.
How many other theories are presented among Evolution?
Neutralist theories, punctuated equilibrium, and so on. The modern synthesis is not the same theory as Darwin's. So there's a variety. But remember, all of them are sciences, with evidence to support them. No religions.
According to the definition, providing one belief while demoralizing the other is indoctrination.
By that definition we should be teaching the alternative theory that the Earth is flat.
Barbarian chuckles:
So we should then teach racism and Marxism? I don't think so. Ironically, these fail for the same reason creationism fails. They are contrary to reason and evidence. If we teach people not to steal, it's still not reasonable to let a thief "teach the controversy."
We do teach it. In fact, I studied it plenty in High school and in College.
Maybe you teach it. Not taught in public schools.
In the Soviet Union, were you allowed to voice your opinion about a Republic?
In fact, Darwinism was banned in the Soviet Union. It was against their religion, too.
Barbarian observes:
We shouldn't teach flat Earth or geocentrism, either. Some things are just wrong.
Those don't have religious implications,
Luther and Calvin disagreed with you, citing the Bible. So yes, people have wrongly interpreted the Bible a great deal in the past as well. Creationism is just the latest false doctrine.