Definition:

Intelligent Design (or ID) is the controversial assertion which states that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by positing an intelligent designer. The majority of ID advocates state that their focus is on detecting evidence of design in nature, without regard to who or what the designer might be. However, ID advocate William Dembski in his book "The Design Inference" lists God or an alien life force as two possible options. Despite ID sometimes being called Intelligent Design Theory, the scientific community does not recognise ID as a scientific theory and considers it to be creationist pseudoscience. Both the Intelligent Design concept and the associated movement have come under considerable criticism.

 

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This could effect all of the US soon. I know someone from Kansas and she's going to be a teacher so it effects her. I keep up on news like this.

 

So back in April or May the Kansas School Board, despite being told by the KS supreme court that they needed to take care of a new school budget as soon as possible (which they still haven't finished taking care of) decided to hold a hearing on Intelligent Design to help them make up their minds about adding it to the school's science curriculum. Being KS, the school board, like 80% of our local government is controlled by the Republican party- it's KS, that's just how it is. So they're gonna add ID to the curriculum anyways because some of the members have admitted that they don't care how the hearings go, they've already made up their minds.

 

Besides, last time republicans controlled the board they banned the teaching of Macro-evolution in the school district (some of you may have heard of this) well, it is now again allowed to be taught, but now they want to add ID in there too.

 

Anyways, scientists boycotted the hearings and only ID people really showed up, which is a pretty big movement in KS, what with Kansas Intelligent Design and its leader John Calvert. One man did show up to argue in favor of science and point out that scientists worldwide largely accept it, but he was merely a local civil rights attorney.

 

Here's a little tidbit that every news source out here picked up on about one of the board members:A further embarrassment came when, after a witness admitted that he had not read the full draft standards, board member Kathy Martin consoled him by saying, according to the Wichita Eagle, "Please don't feel bad that you haven't read the whole thing because I haven't read it myself."

http://www.cascience.org/kansasncse.html

 

So what I'm getting at is that soon highschoolers and middleschoolers will be learning the tenets of Intelligent Design-frankly little more than a dressed up Creationism w/ a few new words, such as "Intelligent Being" or "Creator" rather than God (Kansas can be seriously fucking nuts sometimes).

 

So what do you think about Intelligent Design? Evolution? Should these stupid kids be taught both? Why not leave them ill prepared for when they finally leave this state...

 

The whole situation has been on my mind for a while, I think its lunacy.

we had something similar recently in a similar thread. My stance is the same. The evangelical right in the US have far too much power and influence on the minds of the young. (then again all monotheistic relegious societies have... )

 

 

evangelical right wing = flat earth society.

 

 

'bit by bit, day by day, science brings us closer to the truth. That scares a lot of people.'

 

S

It's just another name for creationism.

Don't they have R.E.?Whay they don't put it there, I mean don't put it where it doesn't belong.

I belive even Pope in 50s said that evolution is more than just a theory.

That is completely ridiculous! Imagine how confused the kids are going to be. They'll be thought about how everything evolved from science and then the church will be preaching about how god is the almightly creature of everything, including science.

I'm completely against this! I mean when people grow up, and even while growing up, they are aware of the arguement of how the world was made and each person should make up their own mind, not have it the scientific facts shoved down their throats while still learning their ABC's! :stunned:

I smell an uproar :stunned:

here's a topic that I have gotten into timeless arguments over with my best friend. he doesnt believe in God.. or anything the church says. he believes there is a higher being and thats it. I on the other hand do believe in a God.. (being raised Catholic) however I dont believe everything the church tried to spoon feed me when I was a kid. I don't believe that the earth was formed in 7 days.. and that God created us all out of dirt and stuff.. I don't believe those 'tales'.. HOWEVER.. I do believe in the theory of evolution.. Big Bang.. etc.. but here's my catch.. I believe God made those things possible. So, mayeb I am off skew.. but thats what I like to believe it. God allows science to happen. (my faith) I totally disagree with these idiots trying to force feed these kids.. I agree with the uproar!

Thanks for this thread topic Reilly. I obviously thing that teaching creationism in school is wrong. These people that are leading this crusade are making this country so fucking scary to live in right now.

theres nothing intelligent about u.s. schools. their so messed up.

Yes, the education system here in America is horribly underfunded and underappreciated.

theres nothing intelligent about u.s. schools. their so messed up.

 

oh! but what happened to 'no child left behind???' wasn't that all Georgie's doing as well???

no matter whos in office our school will be shit. becuase lack of funding, and lack of caring. its mainly the students. i go to a public school and we hardly learn anything because teachers spend their days writing refferals and screaming at the class all the damn time. unless your in honors classes or AP classes you wont learn much. if we didnt make students go, then classes would be better nad kids would learn so much more. because other students wouldnt be keeping them from learning. but we do need more funding and more punishment for bad students who cause trouble

 

no child left behind isnt doing that much, but no other president has done much in that area, so dont go off and just blame bush.

the "no child left behind" is the greatest thing they could have put------that is how minorities in my community are able to go to school

 

on the other hand about creationism--i dont think its wise to teach it at schools---as well as i dont think its ok to teach evolution---because--in a matter of religion---its best to separate the two----there are thousands of religions and thousands of beliefs so just keep them away

 

my beliefs, me being religious and studying science, is both. I believe God created us all but he didnt do it out of nothing, i think he got one of his creations, the monkey, and modified it and fixed it to be us humans-------

 

also in the bible says that he created the world in seven days---but it also says that our time is not Gods time----so maybe for us seven days is seven '24 hour' days but for him might be seven '1 million years' days---

 

so i believe in evolution, in the big band, in the formation of our planet, and all that scientic shit we learn at school, but i believe in God too and that he is the one who created and made all that happen----not in seven earth days but in seven God's days

 

:P

so lilchick your saying the no child left behind works?

 

they shouldnt teach creationism in school nor evolution.

 

i know lots of christains who believe in evolution and god like you, and you make a good point about the days.

well, here in cali--there was a time where if u were immigrant---u wouldn't be able to go to school----now all children can go to school---so yeah it worked for my family--so yeah :P

 

and i also think that both creationism and evolution should be out of shools---did i not make that clear???

:P

I guess you did, but it just shocked me.

why did it shock u?

:P

the "no child left behind" is the greatest thing they could have put------that is how minorities in my community are able to go to school

 

on the other hand about creationism--i dont think its wise to teach it at schools---as well as i dont think its ok to teach evolution---because--in a matter of religion---its best to separate the two----there are thousands of religions and thousands of beliefs so just keep them away

 

my beliefs, me being religious and studying science, is both. I believe God created us all but he didnt do it out of nothing, i think he got one of his creations, the monkey, and modified it and fixed it to be us humans-------

 

also in the bible says that he created the world in seven days---but it also says that our time is not Gods time----so maybe for us seven days is seven '24 hour' days but for him might be seven '1 million years' days---

 

so i believe in evolution, in the big band, in the formation of our planet, and all that scientic shit we learn at school, but i believe in God too and that he is the one who created and made all that happen----not in seven earth days but in seven God's days

 

:P

 

 

ahh I see.. but it still doesnt change the fact that our educational system sucks... yay for us minorities.. but boo on the system.

well, here in cali--there was a time where if u were immigrant---u wouldn't be able to go to school----now all children can go to school---so yeah it worked for my family--so yeah :P

 

and i also think that both creationism and evolution should be out of shools---did i not make that clear???

:P

So eh...what are they suppose to teach then?

nothing. on that subject, i mean most teachers in my school dont do it.

So I guess ignorance is the answer?What's the point of science class, might as well abolish it!Not teaching anything would be even worse than the ID, you could persuade people that they are literally made of mud!

no, its not ignorant not to teach evolution. its a non proven theory just as likely as creatism. if they teach evolution they should teach creatism.(sp?)

Creationism is in no way as close to a theory as evolution. Evolution has been shown to exist scientifically.

evolutions if far from a fact or being proven and as of now shouldnt be taught to students.

There really is no comparison. Creationism is not as valid as evolution.

i dont mind that much if they teach evolution as long as they let people know its not a fact and its a theory.

But Nick, there really are examples of evolution around you. It is fact in my opinion.