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Alberta schools and evolution....
AxeGrrl:
(sigh) this is depressing.
"A controversial Alberta bill will enshrine into law the rights of parents to pull their children out of classes discussing the topics of evolution and homosexuality....."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/04/30/cgy-bill-evolution-law-alberta-classes-teachers.html
Dionysus:
Et tu, Brute?! :(
I really hope our Christian conservative right-wing hasn't been influencing Canada's policy. We don't need two screwed up America's on one continent.
AxeGrrl:
I know, I'm frigging nuts.
I know there's no point trying to debate/engage with creationists
I know.
so why the hell can't I stay away from 'getting into it' with someone who posts something like this?:
--- Quote ---I realize that evolutionists have put humans on the same tree as apes, they would have to, where else would we possible fit (to an evolutionist that is). Evolutionists say the apes and humans are members of the same superfamily, the Hominoidea. So no ShawnDoe... humans are NOT apes.
If you look at the apes on that family tree they are all very similar to each other with a full hair coat, large canine teeth, no whites of the eyes showing, walk on all fours, very long arms, limited communication, etc.
As much as evolutionist want humans to "fit" into their world view, we do not. We are nothing like our supposed "relatives". Although we maybe 98% genetically the same as apes, we are also 90% genetically the same as dogs. That is not proof of evolution but of a creator.
After years of learning about evolution in the school system and being an atheist during my teens, I decided to investigate the debate for myself. The evidence against evolution is overwhelming. There are many interesting videos and internet sites raising questions that evolution can not answer. I guess that is why the debate goes on.
In an article written by David Plaited - http://www.cs.unc.edu/~plaisted/ce/apes.html - he writes:
"One can understand in evolutionary terms why there should be animals such as apes that are so close to humans. But why would God create a creature that is so close to a human, but not quite? The original creation was intended to contribute to the happiness of man and animal. We can assume that in many cases the Lord created animals that would be a delight to man, and created man to be a blessing to the animals. It is reasonable to assume that these creatures were partly made for just this reason, to be a joy and entertainment to us."
--- End quote ---
Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law - comments
Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?
(and no, that's not a rhetorical question. Fire away :)
OldScotch:
Yeesh, over 3000 comments on the article.
I don't get it, I really don't....why do people insist that belief in God contradicts evolution?
SkepticalEsquire:
Oh how I weep for my Province.
Seems that the Premier and his Ministers aren't getting the same briefing notes. Premier Stelmach says that the Bill will allow for parents to opt their children out from education topics dealing with evolution, while a couple of his Ministers are saying the opposite. For example:
[Minister] Blackett said he has gone through the draft bill and talked to staff in the education and justice departments and concluded that religious beliefs aren't covered.
"This is opt-out on religious instruction not on grounds of religious beliefs. So the thought that somebody can get out of evolution using the fact that it's against their religious beliefs is not correct," he said. "Evolution is not a part of religious studies, it's part of science curriculum, and there is nothing that will change that going forward."
If a teacher follows the curriculum there "is no problem."
"We aren't talking about discussions that come up in class," he said. "We expect people to be reasonable. We expect that the teacher has to have the latitude. We are not the thought police, and we don't want to interfere with their ability to teach their classes." http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/05/04/cgy-evolution-alberta-human-rights.html
I've read the proposed section 11.1 which deals with the "notice to parents" that gives rise to the option to opt out. I agree that it doesn't expressly state that teachers must give notice of disussion topics that may conflict with certain religious beliefs, given that the notice obligation is triggered by, " subject-matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation." But I sure as hell bet that some parent in the Alberta Bible Belt is going to claim that the notice requirements were breached by the school the first time their kid comes home to say that he learned that the earth isn't 6000 years old or that humans are apes.
Bill 44: http://www.assembly.ab.ca/bills/2009/pdf/bill-044.pdf
Reminds me of the Onion Weekender magazine headline, "They Tried to Teach my Baby Science". :-\
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