Scientist discovers that evolution is missing from Arkansas classrooms.
Jason R. Wiles
Updated: 3/23/2006
In the fall of 2004, I received an e-mail from an old friend back in Arkansas, where I was raised. She was concerned about a problem her father was having at work. âBobâ is a geologist and a teacher at a science education institution that serves several Arkansas public school districts. My friend did not know the details of Bobâs problem, only that it had to do with geology education. This was enough to arouse my interest, so I invited Bob to tell me about what was going on.
He responded with an e-mail. Teachers at his facility are forbidden to use the âe-wordâ (evolution) with the kids. They are permitted to use the word âadaptationâ but only to refer to a current characteristic of an organism, not as a product of evolutionary change via natural selection. They cannot even use the term ânatural selection.â Bob feared that not being able to use evolutionary terms and ideas to answer his studentsâ questions would lead to reinforcement of their misconceptions.
But Bobâs personal issue was more specific, and the prohibition more insidious. In his words, âI am instructed NOT to use hard numbers when telling kids how old rocks are. I am supposed to say that these rocks are VERY VERY OLD ... but I am NOT to say that these rocks are thought to be about 300 million years old.â
Full story here:
http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=e7a0f0e1-ecfd-4fc8-bca4-b9997c912a91
Jason R. Wiles
Updated: 3/23/2006
In the fall of 2004, I received an e-mail from an old friend back in Arkansas, where I was raised. She was concerned about a problem her father was having at work. âBobâ is a geologist and a teacher at a science education institution that serves several Arkansas public school districts. My friend did not know the details of Bobâs problem, only that it had to do with geology education. This was enough to arouse my interest, so I invited Bob to tell me about what was going on.
He responded with an e-mail. Teachers at his facility are forbidden to use the âe-wordâ (evolution) with the kids. They are permitted to use the word âadaptationâ but only to refer to a current characteristic of an organism, not as a product of evolutionary change via natural selection. They cannot even use the term ânatural selection.â Bob feared that not being able to use evolutionary terms and ideas to answer his studentsâ questions would lead to reinforcement of their misconceptions.
But Bobâs personal issue was more specific, and the prohibition more insidious. In his words, âI am instructed NOT to use hard numbers when telling kids how old rocks are. I am supposed to say that these rocks are VERY VERY OLD ... but I am NOT to say that these rocks are thought to be about 300 million years old.â
Full story here:
http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=e7a0f0e1-ecfd-4fc8-bca4-b9997c912a91