13% of high schools teach creationist nonsense

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About 13% of high school biology teachers nationwide push creationism as the process by which humans came to exist on Earth, LiveScience reports. A Penn State survey found that the majority of bio teachers—about 60%—take a soft stance on the contentious issue, avoiding definitive statements about either creationism or evolution to avoid controversy.

But two minorities take firmer stances for their chosen positions: 28% of teachers firmly teach evolution and discount creationism, while 13% do the opposite. Specifically, the latter group agreed they “explicitly advocate creationism or intelligent design by spending at least one hour of class time presenting it in a positive light.”

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George DeMarse
11 years ago

All God’s Creatures

I went to learnin’ in Texas. Of course creationism is true! God done created this here place by golly–and dont’cha be forgittin’ the word.

lazersedge
13 years ago

And we wonder why we are falling behind the rest of the world in education. Well, DUH! Dumb and dumber, we teach the wrong friggin’ stuff.

13 years ago

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael E. Kelly, Michael Scott. Michael Scott said: RT @madmike1 13% of high schools teach creationist nonsense http://bit.ly/hTthrH […]

13 years ago

Big fight here in the reddest part of Cali where the bible thumpers want to teach it along side the science. A ton of those suckers are on the school boards in the county. The Biggest thumper of them all just got elected to the Board of Supervisors…which is good or bad depending on your pov. 😉

I hope I don’t piss off anyone by calling them bible thumpers. But anyone that has to drag their religion into my life by making it part of our laws is a friggin bible thumper in my book.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Dusty
13 years ago

My book too Dusty. As to the Jesus Jumpers they will forever lie and deny because they think the Big Beard in the Sky is on their side.

13 years ago

Well, I suppose private schools can tech creationism. I was taught creationism the one year I attended the slum version of a private school, which was a religious academy.

Surely this statistic does not refer to public schools?!

Surely!

Reply to  John Myste
13 years ago

I really think this has as much to do with regional differences than anything else. I grew up in New York, went to Catholic School from K-12; but I honestly don’t recall creationism ever being mentioned. Religious or not, I feel like evolution was just accepted. In fact, I’ve always been a little shocked coming across creationists. Until I got into college and saw it was a “debate,” I just assumed everybody knew it.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Michael Edward Kelly
13 years ago

I also went to Catholic School K-12 Mike and while we were exposed to whole Adam and Eve myth I don’t recall actually being “taught” creationism, or evolution for that matter. Of course it was a long time ago and I probably have forgotten the majority of what I learned or didn’t 🙂

Reply to  Michael John Scott
13 years ago

Those papists are actually more progressive than the fundies when it comes to accepting science (except of course in vitro, birth control, stem cells etc). I think the whole Galileo thing embarrassed them so now they try to be more open to reality? At least they let science explain how it happened, as long as God started it.

Vatican I solemnly defined that everyone must “confess the world and all things which are contained in it, both spiritual and material, as regards their whole substance, have been produced by God from nothing”

It allows for the possibility that man’s body developed from previous biological forms, under God’s guidance, but it insists on the special creation of his soul.

more info here

http://www.catholic.com/library/Adam_Eve_and_Evolution.asp

Michael John Scott
Reply to  John Myste
13 years ago

These are public schools John:

“The data was collected from 926 nationally representative participants in the National Survey of High School Biology Teachers, which polled them on what they taught in the classroom and how much time they spent on each subject. They also noted the teachers’ personal feelings on creationism and evolution.”

Scary stuff huh?

Reply to  Michael John Scott
13 years ago

Ok, we got way too many Michael’s here. 😉

In counties or districts were the voting population elects more rightwingers you will get more religious crap being taught in public schools. It’s so pathetic as those kids will be behind when it comes to the sciences if they go on to college.

Reply to  Michael John Scott
13 years ago

Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! Or will I?

13 years ago

I think some people must not realize that religion is a handy tool for when we don’t have scientific explanations for things, not an excuse to ignore explanations that are solidly founded. Well, at least IMHO.

Religion is still a nice comfort in hard times, and can provide structure for those who need it. For those age-old and unanswered questions–“what is the meaning of life? Why are we here?”–by all means, some may turn to religion for understanding.

…But creationism? Really, teachers? Sigh.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Greenlight
13 years ago

It is truly a sad state of affairs Gl, when our children are being taught such nonsense, not only at home, but in the public schools.

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