Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Modern School

(794 posts)
Wed Dec 28, 2011, 05:12 PM Dec 2011

Too Much Evolution For KY Superintendent

Evolution, is fine, just like junk food, so long as we aren’t giving our kids too much of it, suggests Ricky Line, superintendent of Hart County Schools in Kentucky. Line wrote to the Kentucky Board of Education to complain about the overemphasis on evolution in the schools.

The Panda’s Thumb blog paraphrased his letter to the school board:
“I have a deep concern about the increased emphasis on the evolution content required in the new End-of-Course Blueprint. After carefully reviewing the Blueprint, I find the increase is substantial and alarming .…
I have a very difficult time believing that we have come to a point in education that we are teaching evolution, not the theory of evolution, [sic] as a factual occurrence, while totally omitting the creation story by a God who is bigger than all of us. I do not believe in macroevolution, and I do believe in creation by our God. …
I take no issue with the teaching of microevolution, the documented proof that a species changes over time, just as humans are taller on the average than they were 50 years ago. I also take no issue with macroevolution being taught as a theory.

Fortunately for the integrity of science education in Kentucky, the Commissioner of the Kentucky Board of Education, Terry Holliday, wrote back to Line explaining that he was misusing the word “theory” to mean “guess” or “hypothesis,” and that both macro- and micro-evolution are well-established scientific principles, supported by ample evidence, and necessary concepts for their students to master if they hope to be college-ready.

Unfortunately for the children of Hart County, Ricky Line continues to assert that macroevolution wasn’t supported by evidence and that creationism was true (though he failed to provide any evidence for this truth).

Modern School
http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2011/12/too-much-evolution-for-ky.html

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Too Much Evolution For KY Superintendent (Original Post) Modern School Dec 2011 OP
What is this guy doing being a superintendent?? Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #1
He got elected by Jesus jumpers Warpy Dec 2011 #2
Superintendents are elected in Kentucky? LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #3
So the thumpers take over the school board first. nt hack89 Dec 2011 #5
More important: how to get rid of this man from .. MarkCharles Dec 2011 #4
So he can believe science that has occured in his lifetime (i.e. under his nose), but AllyCat Dec 2011 #6
Great book on this... LostInTX Jan 2012 #7
Wow... Arrell Jan 2012 #8
Bring in other religions fightforfreedom123 Mar 2012 #9
 

MarkCharles

(2,261 posts)
4. More important: how to get rid of this man from ..
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 11:12 AM
Dec 2011

having anything to do with taxpayer-funded public education?

I bet he's a right-winger, too.

AllyCat

(17,105 posts)
6. So he can believe science that has occured in his lifetime (i.e. under his nose), but
Fri Dec 30, 2011, 12:38 PM
Dec 2011

won't look at things that happen outside his watch or memory. Of course, we wouldn't want to look at other possibilities for why people may be taller than 50 years ago such as growth hormones or other environmental factors.

This man does not believe in science at all and what he sees as science has to be on his (and his Fundie compatriots) terms.

Fire him.

LostInTX

(2 posts)
7. Great book on this...
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 02:41 PM
Jan 2012

Check out "Fool me Twice: The Assault on Science in America". It is a very well written and follows the assault on science here, with good (although scary) examples.

 
9. Bring in other religions
Sat Mar 24, 2012, 12:56 AM
Mar 2012

Bring in Hindu, Wiccan, Scientology and Islamic creation myths. Watch this guy quickly say, "No! This is a Christian Nation!!"

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience»Too Much Evolution For KY...