16% of US science teachers are creationists
16% of US science teachers are creationists
Despite a court-ordered ban on the teaching of creationism in US schools, about one in eight high-school biology teachers still teach it as valid science, a survey reveals. And, although almost all teachers also taught evolution, those with less training in science – and especially evolutionary biology – tend to devote less class time to Darwinian principles.
US courts have repeatedly decreed that creationism and intelligent design are religion, not science, and have no place in school science classrooms. But no matter what courts and school boards decree, it is up to teachers to put the curriculum into practice.
“Ultimately, they are the ones who carry it out,” says Michael Berkman, a political scientist at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
But what teachers actually teach about evolution and creationism in their classrooms is a bit of a grey area, so Berkman and his colleagues decided to conduct the first-ever national survey on the subject.
‘Not shocking’
The researchers polled a random sample of nearly 2000 high-school science teachers across the US in 2007. Of the 939 who responded, 2% said they did not cover evolution at all, with the majority spending between 3 and 10 classroom hours on the subject.
However, a quarter of the teachers also reported spending at least some time teaching about creationism or intelligent design. Of these, 48% – about 12.5% of the total survey – said they taught it as a “valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species”.
Science teaching experts say they are not surprised to find such a large number of science teachers advocating creationism.
“It seems a bit high, but I am not shocked by it,” says Linda Froschauer, past president of the National Science Teachers Association based in Arlington, Virginia. “We do know there’s a problem out there, and this gives more credibility to the issue.”
May 20, 2008 @ 10:43:01
I am starting to realize that parents should choose what they want their children to study and the parents themselves need to become educated to become the childs teacher, both mother and father. Schools are for fish not children. While there are still schools we should unite, religion, evolution, creationism,science and alow people to choose. If people are not allowed to choose the civilization will become more and more divided against itself. Religion and Science are written in peoples genes. The energy patterns must be transformed to realize both ways as a Science. Is it possibe to be a creation and an evolution? Ask your inward parts.
May 20, 2008 @ 11:39:43
When we teach math and science, we should also teach magic and astrology.. you know, and let the kids choose which is more fun and to their liking.
If I had such a choice when I was in school, asked whether I want to learn about religion (where the answer is always ‘God’) vs Science, where I have to memorize stupid tables of elements and other such useless garbage, I’d obviously have chosen Religion.
I’m fucking glad I was never given that option.
Sep 06, 2008 @ 19:49:02
If you could prevent your kids from hearing the word God…that would be a plus in your mind…. Although I must admitt that I will try very hard to educate my children about Jesus….
The choice is every individuals,,kid’s included…would you take that choice away from your children,,,,maybe they won’t have the same intellectual,,,superior brain like yours,, They maybe like the other ninety something percentlie that are delusional ( as you say ) who actually believe in a higher power.
What makes you so special?, and us so delusional…if i was a betting man,,,i say your probaly mad at God,,,maybe blame Him for some messes up childhood….Just a guess