Abbie Smith is a graduate student studying the molecular and biochemical evolution of HIV within patients and within populations. She also studies epigenetic control of ERVs.
Oh. My. God.
We played Sedalia all the time in high school. They were in our conference our district or whatever. I remember them being skankie, but not THIS skankie.
Apparently, this years band theme is "Brass Evolution 2009", so their T-shirts had one of those generic 'evolution of man' images, with the characters carrying band instruments.
The kids had to turn the shirts back in after parents complained. This is their logic, and apparently representative of the kind of science education the kids in Sedalia Missouri are getting:
"I made the decision to have the band members turn the shirts in after several concerned parents brought the shirts to my attention," Pollitt said.*twitch*Pollitt said the district is required by law to remain neutral where religion is concerned.
"If the shirts had said 'Brass Resurrections' and had a picture of Jesus on the cross, we would have done the same thing," he said.
*TWITCH*
Band parent Sherry Melby, who is a teacher in the district, stands behind Pollitt's decision. Melby said she associated the image on the T-shirt with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.........."I was disappointed with the image on the shirt." Melby said. "I don't think evolution should be associated with our school."
"It's not like we are saying God is bad," sophomore band member Denyel Luke said. "We aren't promoting evolution."
"I liked the shirt because it was unique," Howard said. "The theory of evolution never even crossed my mind."
Pollitt said the district would now have to absorb the cost of the T-shirts -- $700 -- that would have been paid for by the band parents. Pollitt said an anonymous donor had originally planned to pay half the cost, but declined after the evolution image was placed on the shirts. However, the donor does plan to fund half the price of the new T-shirts.
Education
Comments
Drug me. Stat!
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | August 30, 2009 1:08 AM
stupefyingly stupid
Posted by: Camels With Hammers | August 30, 2009 1:45 AM
You get the feeling that these people have no idea that many things in fact based subjects like science, history and geography clash with biblical teaching. Even more if you want to consider religion as a whole rather than a sectarian christian interpretation of it. For instance how can you teach the history of the Americas factually if you have to stay silent on anything that clashes with the mormons version of events?
The really sad thing about the story is that the superintendent, parents and teachers who wanted evolution removed from the school probably think they are being 'neutral' on the issue. I've occasionally trespassed on a christian messageboard during discussions involving evolution in school (the secret is to just act dumb and you wont get expelled!) and when I jokingly suggest the best solution is to teach biology but just not mention evolution the 'moderates' seem to think that this is the fairest solution!
Its a bit like suggesting teaching physics but leaving out lessons involving mass or energy.
Posted by: Sigmund | August 30, 2009 3:23 AM
Christians are stupid. In more news, today the sun was observed to rise in the east.
Posted by: Martin | August 30, 2009 7:16 AM
In other news, pictures of molecules! I think I can see Jesus in there running around trying to hold the darn thing together, if I'm not mistaken.
Posted by: 386sx | August 30, 2009 7:55 AM
This reads like something from The Onion. This is breathtakingly stupid.
Posted by: Glendon Mellow | August 30, 2009 7:56 AM
When you live in Bumfuck, MO (aka Sedalia) you have to expect stupid. The hard part is waiting around for something good to happen so you can cheer.
Posted by: MikeMa | August 30, 2009 8:20 AM
Has anyone told those parents that the school is actually teaching non-biblical mathematics in geometry class?
When they get over that, they may want to order in another case of smelling salts for teaching non-biblical physics, too.
Then there's the geography class (assuming there still is one) which is teaching that it isn't turtles all the way down.
The list is endless. Best to just close the school and let all of th parents hire babysitters for their teens.
Posted by: D. C. Sessions | August 30, 2009 9:07 AM
Repeat six million times: evolution is not a religious issue.
Sigh.
Posted by: Stephen Wells | August 30, 2009 10:02 AM
I dont think any students should be associated with her school, either.
WTF
Posted by: clinteas | August 30, 2009 10:37 AM
I see someone in the comments there starts in on the nonsense about how people who don't send their kids to public schools should be able to opt out of paying taxes for them. While this line of argument always demonstrates a very limited grasp of the issues, the commenter then goes on to gripe how people who rent are getting a "free ride" because they don't pay property taxes. WTF? Do they think the landlord is absorbing the cost out of his retirement fund? Sheesh.
Sorry for going off topic.
Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip | August 30, 2009 10:47 AM
*FACEPALM*
This isn't the Onion article? Really? Really???
I prefer to be in denial about that.
Posted by: Sara | August 30, 2009 12:11 PM
Evil prank:
Go to a bar in Sedalia. Say something about how pissed you are that they let pediatricians live right in town. Anyone who wants to have sex with little kids should be behind bars. People outta protest in front of the pediatrician's houses...
See if you get any fish to bite. Plumbing the depth of the stupidity can have its entertainment value.
Posted by: Dr Benway | August 30, 2009 12:14 PM
Good thing they saved those kids from wearing the devil's uniform.
Posted by: The Curmudgeon | August 30, 2009 12:44 PM
I had to explain this to somebody at a city council meeting one day when they said that apartment dwellers should pay a fee whenever the cops come to our apartments, because we were "getting free protection paid for by our property taxes."
In Minnesota, we actually pay a higher proportion of property taxes per household in multi-unit housing than any homeowner.
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | August 30, 2009 1:17 PM
There should be an analogue to the Paulian characterization of something as "not even wrong" that's suitable for this. Perhaps "not even stupid" would suffice.
Posted by: Tyler DiPietro | August 30, 2009 1:25 PM
Posted by: Dustin | August 30, 2009 3:00 PM
OT, but today's Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal is on science journalism
Posted by: palochka | August 30, 2009 3:13 PM
Further evidence that Missouri is almost as god-infected as Oklahoma.
Posted by: Mobius | August 30, 2009 3:52 PM
ATTENTION: POLL CRASH!!!!
Sedalia Democrat has a poll up now! Lower right panel:
"Should the Sedalia school district have pulled the Smith-Cotton High School band T-shirts?
Yes, the evolution image was inappropriate
57%
No, critics and the district are overreacting
43%
Total Votes: 199"
Posted by: ERV | August 30, 2009 4:51 PM
Dr. Benway, I suggest you don't. As a few years ago when our red top rags in the UK were going ape shit seeing and accusing almost anyone who even looked at kids as pedos, a paediatrician in, IIRC, Plymouth had their house and car vandalised and had to have police protection for a while because of the stoopid not knowing the difference between a paediatrician and a paedophile. It wasn't very pleasant for the innocent doctor, not that it made the red tops review their reporting.
Posted by: John Phillips, FCD | August 30, 2009 6:53 PM
#20 POLL CRASH. Only 420 votes.
http://www.sedaliademocrat.com
Now 67% No, critics and district are overreaching.
Posted by: vhutchison | August 30, 2009 8:51 PM
You have no respect for anything.You're just an animal wearing a sophisticated covering who's articulating words instead of howls...Sorry for ya'
Posted by: cirian | August 31, 2009 4:27 AM
#23, are you by any chance from Sirius? Just wondering...
Posted by: Rrr | August 31, 2009 5:38 AM
#23
Unintentional irony. U haz it.
#21 - Yes, I love that UK story 'bout the toopids going after pediatricians. It inspires me.
But I agree: violence is bad.
In the prank genre, there's a moment of reveal, of saying "April Fools!" Best to hand the idiots a clue prior to any bloodshed.
Posted by: Dr Benway | August 31, 2009 7:27 AM
I wonder when these shirts are going to show up on eBay and how much they'll go for...
.
.
3. profit
Posted by: BAllanJ | August 31, 2009 9:33 AM
Welcome to the 21st century, Sedalia! Thats right, it is 2009. Please set your calendars ahead 150 years.
Posted by: Dr. Death | August 31, 2009 9:43 AM
Maybe the SciBlogs could take up a collection that the anon donor pulled out?
I'll throw in $10.
Posted by: FastLane | August 31, 2009 3:46 PM
Melby said, “I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.”
I don't think that Melby needs to worry about that. It likely never will be, in any respect.
Posted by: Mind Over Splatter | August 31, 2009 4:58 PM
you are SHANKIE
Posted by: you | August 31, 2009 7:11 PM
Oh for crying out loud. Three people complained, that doesn't make everyone in Sedalia an idiot.
Posted by: rlynne | August 31, 2009 9:24 PM
Ahh, the goodship Pharyngula arrived and drowned the contribution to the poll crash made by ERV's 5 regulars.
Posted by: Dustin | August 31, 2009 10:22 PM
Thanks, rlynne, for adding point #3 to my list: What's a Sedalian?
3. Sedalians don't know what's a mountain and what's a molehill
In your example, you mistake the mountain of a First Amendment violation for the molehill of "three people complained."
Government entanglement with religion is manifest in the behavior of the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, when he acted upon his personal religious belief that the theory of evolution is not science but religion.
Posted by: Dr Benway | September 1, 2009 7:49 AM
For Dr Benway, and those in the UK who think 'teh stupid' only lives in the US:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/901723.stm
JH
Posted by: Jacques Hughes | September 1, 2009 11:42 AM
Ok Dr. Benway, so you got me on what the point of the argument is, and you are right. My point is that I think you are being awful hard on all the residents of Sedalia when you could be aiming your ridicule only at the few that deserve it. And just for the record, I'm not a Sedalian.
Posted by: rlynne | September 1, 2009 9:45 PM
The clever Sedalians aren't taking offense. They emailed to thank us for drawing attention to mind-cripplingly poor science education in their town.
Posted by: Dr Benway | September 2, 2009 9:05 AM