Meditation 795
Banning evolution in school
“I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.” Sherry Melby, a Missouri teacher[1]
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This year, the band at Smith-Cotton High School, Sedalia, Missouri has a playlist which shows the evolution of brass music over the past 50 years. And t-shirts were designed for them with an evolutionary motif.
Even though the science is bad in that it shows man evolving from a monkey, I find the graphic humorous and it gets the idea across of the music evolving over the years. And that's the point of the t-shirt - music evolving, not a scientifically accurate graphic displaying the evolution of mankind.
But, of course a small number of creationist parents protested. And the school district's Assistant Superintendant Brad Pollitt promptly caved without a fight.
According to Pollitt, the school district is required by law to remain neutral on religion.
Yes, Mr. Pollitt, but you, as a presumably educated member of school board management should already fully understand that evolution is not religion. It's science.
Let's summarize what any teacher in the public system should know:
- Evolution is a well proven scientific theory.
- Creationism is a religious belief for which there is absolutely no scientific evidence.
- Intelligent Design is a religious belief for which there is absolutely no scientific evidence.
- Science is not religion
- Creationism and Intelligent Design are not science.
Neutrality on religion does not mean evolution should not be taught in school. It means creationism and intelligent design should not be taught in school.
Footnote:
- Band shirts hit wrong note with parents, by Tonya Fennell, The Sedalia Democrat, August 30, 2009