Statements on Teaching Evolution
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== Science Professionals == | == Science Professionals == | ||
| - | === Rush Holt | + | === Rush Holt === |
| - | [[Rush Holt]] wrote{{ref|rh}}in September 2005 about what is good science, what should be taught about science, and why it should be taught. Some short excerpts: | + | [[Rush Holt]], US Congressional Representative and Physicist, wrote{{ref|rh}}in September 2005 about what is good science, what should be taught about science, and why it should be taught. Some short excerpts: |
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
...public school science classes are not the place to teach concepts that cannot be backed up by evidence and tested experimentally. | ...public school science classes are not the place to teach concepts that cannot be backed up by evidence and tested experimentally. | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| - | === John H Marburger III | + | === John H Marburger III === |
| - | In August 2005, shortly after the President made a statement supportive of teaching "Intelligent Design" creationist doctrine in public schools, [[John H. Marburger III]] responded publically to a question on the subject by saying{{ref|jhm}} | + | In August 2005, shortly after the President made a statement supportive of teaching "Intelligent Design" creationist doctrine in public schools, [[John H. Marburger III]], Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, responded publically to a question on the subject by saying{{ref|jhm}} |
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology. | Evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology. | ||
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== Education Professionals == | == Education Professionals == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Robert E. Hemenway === | ||
| + | |||
| + | In a [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/sep/27/letter_chancellor_ku_staffers/?ku_news "Dear Colleagues" Letter] dated 27 September 2005, University of Kansas Chancellor Bob Hemenway reiterated his earlier position on the teaching of evolution{{ref|reh}}, and wrote: | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | The University of Kansas is a major public research university, a scientific community. We are committed to fact-based research and teaching. As an academic, scientific community, we must affirm scientific principles. [...] The United States cannot accept efforts to undermine the teaching of science. Our focus should be to raise the level of scientific literacy among our citizenry because we face a critical shortage of scientists in the next two decades. As a public research university, we have a special mission to educate tomorrow's scientists and to support the science teachers who will inspire young people to become chemists, geologists, biologists and physicists. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Jack O’Connell === | ||
| + | |||
| + | In a California Department of Education press release{{ref|cde}} dated 28 September 2005, Jack O'Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, is quoted as saying | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | The introduction of intelligent design theory in natural science courses would be a blow to the integrity of education in California. [...] [T]he domain of the natural sciences is the natural world. Science is limited by its tools — observable facts and testable hypothesis. Because religious beliefs are based on faith, and are not subject to scientific test and refutation, these beliefs should not be taught in the realm of natural sciences. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Public Figures == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Jon Huntsman Jr === | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to the story [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600160726,00.html "Educators support teaching evolution"], which appeared in the ''Deseret News [UT]'' on 3 September 2005, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | ...told reporters he believes intelligent design should not be taught in science classes and that the time to talk about other concepts comes largely at home or in religious settings.<br><br> | ||
| + | "If it comes up in sociology or philosophy as differing views on creation, I think that's appropriate," Huntsman said. "But that doesn't happen until college or maybe later in high school." | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Christoph Schoenborn === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Only three months after publishing remarks harsly criticizing evolutionary theory{{ref|csremarks}}, Austrian Cardinal Shoenborn, in a lecture at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna on 2 October 2005, reportedly said{{ref|csreuters}}: | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | Without a doubt, Darwin pulled off quite a feat with his main work and it remains one of the very great works of intellectual history. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | More in our article [[The Cardinal, The Astronomer, and Darwin]]. | ||
== Professional Societies == | == Professional Societies == | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
That same release notes that "[t]he APS governing Council has long expressed its opposition to the inclusion of religious concepts such as intelligent design and related forms of creationism in science classes", having issued two previous statements concerning the teaching of creationist doctrine. For more information, see our article on the [[American Physical Society]]. | That same release notes that "[t]he APS governing Council has long expressed its opposition to the inclusion of religious concepts such as intelligent design and related forms of creationism in science classes", having issued two previous statements concerning the teaching of creationist doctrine. For more information, see our article on the [[American Physical Society]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === American Phytopathological Society === | ||
| + | |||
| + | From their statement [http://www.apsnet.org/media/ps/evolution.asp "On The Teaching of Evolution and Intelligent Design (ID)"], released on 20 September 2005, the Society gives two reasons why they have endorsed the 2002 statement by the American Association for the Advancement of Science supporting the teaching of evolution: | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | First, evolution is the foundation for what we do daily as plant pathologists in our teaching, research, and outreach activities. Second, we are a society of scientists and, as such, we should speak publicly for science when an important need arises, as it has on this occasion. We have an obligation to see that science is portrayed correctly to the public and in particular to youngsters who are just learning about science. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
=== ASA-CSSA-SSSA === | === ASA-CSSA-SSSA === | ||
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</center><br> | </center><br> | ||
Intelligent design is not a scientific discipline and should not be taught as part of the K-12 science curriculum. Intelligent design has neither the substantial research base, nor the testable hypotheses as a scientific discipline. There are at least 70 resolutions from a broad array of scientific societies and institutions that are united on this matter. | Intelligent design is not a scientific discipline and should not be taught as part of the K-12 science curriculum. Intelligent design has neither the substantial research base, nor the testable hypotheses as a scientific discipline. There are at least 70 resolutions from a broad array of scientific societies and institutions that are united on this matter. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === National Association of Biology Teachers === | ||
| + | |||
| + | From the NABT's [http://www.nabt.org/sub/position_statements/evolution.asp "Statement on Teaching Evolution"] (originally from 1995{{ref|natb}}): | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | As stated in ''The American Biology Teacher'' by the eminent scientist Theodosius Dobzhansky (1973), “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” This often-quoted declaration accurately reflects the central, unifying role of evolution in biology. [...] Experimentation, logical analysis, and evidence-based revision are procedures that clearly differentiate and separate science from other ways of knowing. Explanations or ways of knowing that invoke non-naturalistic or supernatural events or beings, whether called “creation science,” “scientific creationism,” “intelligent design theory,” “young earth theory,” or similar designations, are outside the realm of science and not part of a valid science curriculum. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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#{{note|rh}}Rush Holt, [http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/8/183216/1039/ "Intelligent Design: It's Not Even Wrong"], TPMcafe, 8 September 2005. | #{{note|rh}}Rush Holt, [http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/8/183216/1039/ "Intelligent Design: It's Not Even Wrong"], TPMcafe, 8 September 2005. | ||
#{{note|jhm}}Quoted in: Eisabeth Bumiller, "Bush Remarks Roil Debate over Teaching of Evolution", ''New York Times'', 3 August 2005, [http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080305L.shtml archived] at ''truthout.org''. | #{{note|jhm}}Quoted in: Eisabeth Bumiller, "Bush Remarks Roil Debate over Teaching of Evolution", ''New York Times'', 3 August 2005, [http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080305L.shtml archived] at ''truthout.org''. | ||
| + | #{{note|reh}}Robert E. Hemenway, [http://rnaworld.bio.ku.edu/evolve/compare/statement/chancellors_statement.html "The Evolution of a Controversy in Kansas Shows Why Scientists Must Defend the Search for Truth"], Autumn 1999. | ||
| + | #{{note|cde}}[http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel118.asp "State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Defencs California Science Standards: Opposes Intelligent Design Theory as Threat to Integrity of Teaching Natural Sciences"], California Department of Education press release, 28 September 2005. | ||
| + | #{{note|csremarks}}Cornelia Dean and Laurie Goodstein, [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050709/news_1n9evo.html "Cardinal: Evolution may conflict with Catholic beliefs"], ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'', 9 July 2005. | ||
| + | #{{note|csreuters}}[http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-10-04T160725Z_01_DIT457969_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-RELIGION-EVOLUTION-CARDINAL-DC.XML "Cardinal backs evolution and 'intelligent design' "], ''Reuters'', 4 October 2005. | ||
#{{note|mc-aps}}"APS President Marvin L. Cohen, is University Professor of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and received the National Medal of Science from President Bush in 2002." | #{{note|mc-aps}}"APS President Marvin L. Cohen, is University Professor of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and received the National Medal of Science from President Bush in 2002." | ||
| + | #{{note|natb}} "Adopted by the NABT Board of Directors, 1995. Revised 1997, 2000, and May 2004. Endorsed by: The Society for the Study of Evolution, 1998; The American Association of Physical Anthropologists, 1998." | ||
#{{note|steve}}[http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/3541_project_steve_2_16_2003.asp NCSE Project Steve], NCSE website. | #{{note|steve}}[http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/3541_project_steve_2_16_2003.asp NCSE Project Steve], NCSE website. | ||
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* [http://www.aip.org/fyi FYI: The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News]. | * [http://www.aip.org/fyi FYI: The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News]. | ||
* [http://www.ncseweb.org/default.asp National Center for Science Education]. | * [http://www.ncseweb.org/default.asp National Center for Science Education]. | ||
| + | * [http://bobpark.org/ "What's New", by Bob Park]. | ||
