How's your child's science curriculum? I bet it's not as "creative" as this one! (Page 8)

drewb8 - 2013-04-30 12:06 PM

Samyg - 2013-04-30 10:02 AM

You all forget the work of the Prophet Douglas Adams, who eloquently said:

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."

I just have this to say to all of you: 42

I don't know, without any actual evidence that the answer is 42 sounds more like it's faith .

Faith? 42 (and thus the numbers 4 and 2) is a powerful number. I am 44 yrs old. 2 yrs ago I was 42. In 2 years I am going to be able to say that 4 years ago I was 42. And don't get me started about how the number 42 can finally unite all mythological, religious, and scientific theories in one swift and easy to understand mantra.

Really, don't get me started because I am making this as I go and I have no idea how to start.

 I really don't think it matters whether or not the person who serves me my latte understands cosmology, from a broader perspective I do believe it matters. We learned more about science in the 20th century than we had in all human history prior to that and, although I don't know for sure, I would guess that what we've learned already in the 21st century has surpassed what we learned int he 20th century. This has happened, in large part, because we have cast a large educational net and educated that masses; when you do that you are more likely to find the next Newton, Einstein, Planck, Currie, Bohr, Rubin, etc and further our understanding of the universe. Allowing students to be taught science that is not science is counter to this and, as an educator, I have a great deal of trouble accepting the teaching of opinion as science.

My goal is not to be condescending when I talk about things like this; rather it is to ensure that science and religion remain separate. I have no issue with what people believe and also I don't really care if what they believe runs counter to scientific evidence. What I do take issue with is presenting creation stories as science, regardless of which creation stories are being used. Also, I am open to changing my view; if evidence pointed to the fact that evolution does not occur, or that the Big Bang never happened or whatever, then I'm okay with that and will change my view of the universe accordingly.

Samyg - 2013-04-30 12:14 PM

drewb8 - 2013-04-30 12:06 PM

Samyg - 2013-04-30 10:02 AM

You all forget the work of the Prophet Douglas Adams, who eloquently said:

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."

I just have this to say to all of you: 42

I don't know, without any actual evidence that the answer is 42 sounds more like it's faith .

Faith? 42 (and thus the numbers 4 and 2) is a powerful number. I am 44 yrs old. 2 yrs ago I was 42. In 2 years I am going to be able to say that 4 years ago I was 42. And don't get me started about how the number 42 can finally unite all mythological, religious, and scientific theories in one swift and easy to understand mantra.

Really, don't get me started because I am making this as I go and I have no idea how to start.

Is that your actual age or your USAT AG age? Because, in the grand scheme of things, only the latter really matters once you pass 30.

My goal is not to be condescending when I talk about things like this; rather it is to ensure that science and religion remain separate. I have no issue with what people believe and also I don't really care if what they believe runs counter to scientific evidence. What I do take issue with is presenting creation stories as science, regardless of which creation stories are being used. Also, I am open to changing my view; if evidence pointed to the fact that evolution does not occur, or that the Big Bang never happened or whatever, then I'm okay with that and will change my view of the universe accordingly.

OK, thought about this some more. Yes, it does affect your daily life. Knowledge is power. Critical thinking leads to logic, questions, and new knowledge. Take that away and people are easily controlled. In the 1600's Galileo was charged with heresy by the Catholic Church because he challenged the 'fact' that we live in a geocentric universe. Today we see women being killed by the Taliban for seeking an education.

So you can point to any one particular thing (i.e. The Big Bang) and say it knowing about that doesn't affect your daily life. And you can call that a science test, but it isn't. But education, economic, and religious freedom definitely impact your earning capacity. Studies where they have looked at these factors show a statistically significant correlation between a country's degree of religious freedom and GDP.

Science yes, origin theory, no. There is an incredible diverse human belief system, and an equally diverse amount of ways to keep one's self alive for 70 years. No you can't be a geneticist if you do not believe in evolution, but contrary to what all of us science minded folks here think... billions of people manage to make it in life without it. And as hard as it is to imagine for me, there are even people out there that don't really care what their earning potential is and how they rank on ladder of life.

It has been speculated our brain power has not improved much as humans... but obviously our knowledge and understand has. It's obvious, that brain power played an important role in figuring out how to stay safe and kept one fed 50,000 years ago. Knowledge is power, and it is survival of the fittest even today... many don't make it. The thought of everyone being on the same wrung on the ladder seems contrary to 50,000 years worth of human history, or millions of years of evolution history. The fact remains... we are at 7 billion people, and still half the worlds population believes in some sort of Creationism, at a time when scientific understanding has never been equaled... I'm not sure what the problem is.

So I'll go out on a limb here and say... Because it's easy. Because so many people are living on subsistence and just trying to survive. What I find truly amazing is that 46% of Americans believe the earth is less than 10,000 years old and man was created in his present form. That just boggles my mind.

I am equally boggled... yet the world still turns and the US dwarfs every other country in the amount of scientific research and discovery it churns out. Interesting little melting pot we have here eh?

Millions of years of history has shown that much life is lived on the margins. Are you suggesting that one day we will eliminate the margins, and everyone will exist in the same wrung of the ladder? It's an interesting thought, but I do know that this world has not seen it's last mass extinction. At some point, Yellowstone will blow again, another meteor will hit, and we will be swallowed by the Sun. Shame I won't be around to see how it all plays out.

I sure hope not, nor in my kids lifetimes either. No, I think the margins will always exist. I agree, life is a positively skewed curve, and we are fortunate to be in the right side of the tail. The US is a good place.

We have the best educational system in the world, an economic system that encourages entrepreneurship, and a social structure that supports creativity. We actually don't dwarf other countries though. Japan and South Korea churn out more patents per capita than the US. Israel has the most Ph.D.'s per capita. So I think it's a mix of those three things I mention that provide us a leadership position. I do worry that when we de-emphasize STEM we risk losing that position. We're holding our own because of immigration and population size, not because we're smarter or better educated overall.

Who can't help but love Richard Feynman? 

Here's a good true or false science quiz to hand out to children raised by fancy pants progressive rationalists.  It helps if the children have had the chance to observe chicken eggs incubating and hatching in one of those kits that a lot of kindergarten and first graders get.

Question: A chicken begins life when an egg is fertilized. True or False?

Question: A human being begins life when an egg is fertilized. True or False?

Bet you a bag of donuts the kids raised by the fancy pants progressive rationalists will answer True to #1 and False to #2.

Meanwhile, their parents and teachers will laugh at the ignorance of the creationist knuckle draggers.

I answered false to both.  Do I still get to be called a fancy pants progressive rationalist?

Maybe.

When does a chicken's life begin?

Maybe.

When does a chicken's life begin?

Oooh I know this one...

When you bread it and throw it in the fryer!

Maybe.

When does a chicken's life begin?

Isn't it an amazing straw we pulled to be born into this country at this time? Comparatively, in human existence, we are the .1% if you want to take it that far. .01%?

I read an article in Science Digest just the other day about where we stand in the world with science. They looked at education, patents, and research and discovery. And there was one category that we dominated in for volume of patents and research... per capita, maybe not, but shear volume, yes. I admit I did not memorize it and can't say right now the actual findings... but that was what I was referencing... not just the usual... America's the best M'er F'ers!!!

Maybe.

When does a chicken's life begin?

I often think that (while on long runs/rides or just contemplating life).  I'm sure most people love their countries as we do ours.  But man, we got it GOOD...  And we take it for granted for most part.

I mean, to be born in the US during a pretty good time?  Considering how many people have existed throughout time and the world?  It's like winning power ball...

Guss it's my national pride sneaking out.

I often think that (while on long runs/rides or just contemplating life).  I'm sure most people love their countries as we do ours.  But man, we got it GOOD...  And we take it for granted for most part.

I mean, to be born in the US during a pretty good time?  Considering how many people have existed throughout time and the world?  It's like winning power ball...

Guss it's my national pride sneaking out.

I answered false to both.  Do I still get to be called a fancy pants progressive rationalist?

OK, that's fair. You have a personal interest, and it grabbed your attention based on your experience and perspective. I apologize if you took my comments as a personal attack. I got some sleep, so I am feeling better. :)

The topic at hand is non science being taught in a science class... and sure, I have an opinion on that and can just leave it at that. But we also know, that the "subject" isn't dinosaurs, but Origin Theory. That's the big picture. That once again Creationism and science is butting heads, and those of a particular faith are pushing their beliefs.... in a school where it isn't a surprise that they would do such a thing. That isn't going to change anytime soon. It happens every day, all over the world, and yet here we are at 7 billion people and it is still turning.

Thanks for this post.  I appreciate it.  I am a grouchy mess when I haven't had sleep.  I'm glad you're feeling better.