Science Education
Category archives for Science Education
The Devil in Dover
Posted by Greg Laden on September 1, 2010 When I go to meet the teachers or administrators at my daughter’s school, I whisper these words to each of them: “I just want you to know that I’m involved in a number of organizations that seek to protect the quality of science education in our public schools. If you ever need any support, if…
Should creationism be taught in (Florida) schools?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2010 No. But unfortunately, of the 12 candidates running for school board in one Florida County, only three, Rick Nesbit, Gunnar Paulson and Carol Oyenarte, said “No” when recently asked the question.
Florida Man with No Background in Science Determines that Creationism is a Valid Theory for How Life Got There and What it Is
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2010 Ray M. Davis, Jr., of Alachua also admits that his religious beliefs tell him that creationism is true, but despite this admission he still feels that his local school board should ruin science education for all the children in his local public school by ramming their non scientific beliefs down the throats of the students…
Half of Americans think evolution did not happen
Posted by Greg Laden on August 16, 2010 Therefore, we should teach that as fact in schools, right?
Getting evolution right: Tips for writers
Posted by Greg Laden on August 14, 2010 Bringing Science to Kids with Song
Posted by Greg Laden on August 13, 2010 Money Harper is a musician who has put to song several actual research projects of University of Oklahoma scientists. He’s raising money to finish the project. Maybe you can help him out. Either way, it is an interesting story, and I’m sure you are going to want a copy of the CD.
Uncommon Knowledge: Genie Scott vs. Dembski
Posted by Greg Laden on August 13, 2010 An episode from KTEH’s Uncommon Knowledge series: “Darwin under the Microscope: Questioning Darwinism”. Dr. Genie Scott goes toe to toe with creationist Dr. William Dembski. Air date: 12/7/2001
A good example of appeasement
Posted by Greg Laden on August 12, 2010 … can be found here, in this talk by William Phillips speaking at the AAAS:
Teabagger Ron Micheli and the Wyoming Governor’s Race
Posted by Greg Laden on August 11, 2010 Wyoming, which is a pretty stupid state sometimes, although you don’t hear about it too often because almost no one lives there, has a candidate for governor who … wants teachers to be required to teach creationism. “I think it is as valuable a theory as any other theory.” … is opposed to abortion even…
Creationist College Prof Will Not Return to Classroom
Posted by Greg Laden on August 9, 2010 An adjunct community college professor had a bit of a problem when it came time to teach evolution, according to certain sources: Student Bryan Jaden Walker wrote on his blog, … that the professor “glossed over the scientific explanation very quickly (less than 20 seconds), then explained Creationism for about five minutes (5,000-year-old Earth, no…
Livingston Parish Saved from Creationists
Posted by Greg Laden on August 4, 2010 For now. This just in from the National Center for Science Education: Creationism won’t be taught in the public schools of Livingston Parish, Louisiana — at least not yet. The Baton Rouge Advocate (August 1, 2010) reports that “The Livingston Parish School Board won’t try to include the teaching of creationism in this year’s curriculum,…
Darwin’s Universe: Evolution from A to Z (a free excerpt)
Posted by Greg Laden on August 2, 2010 … from the National Center for Science Education. Click the picture to get the PDF of Darwin’s Universe: Evolution from A to Z .
Livingston, LA School Board To Implement Discovery Institute’s “Academic Freedom” Law
Posted by Greg Laden on July 29, 2010 Barbara Forrest, author of Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design, has a major blog post addressing the current maneno in Louisiana. A Parish school board there wants to place creationism on equal or higher footing than evolution. Read Barbara’s piece here.
Louisiana Parish will Legally Require Creationism in Public Schools, May Ban Evolution
Posted by Greg Laden on July 26, 2010 Unless they are stopped which, frankly, does not seem very likely.
Minnesota Citizens for Science Education has a New Home!!!
Posted by Greg Laden on July 14, 2010 And we need your help to move it. Please click here so the global network of DNS servers knows that you want to visit the MnCSE. You should really visit the site anyway, it’s very cool, even if you are not a Minnesota. I love the graphic thingie on the top of the right sidebar…
Dumb Canadians Get to Maintain Dumb Standards for their Dumb Kids
Posted by Greg Laden on July 9, 2010 And we’re talking about bigots and creationists in Alberta, which I figure is more or less the Canadian equivalent of Texas …. the dumbest province in the Great White North.
Evolution: Education and Outreach dedicates issue to Genie Scott
Posted by Greg Laden on June 29, 2010 The latest issue of Evolution: Education and Outreach (volume 3, number 2) is in honor of — if a few months in advance of — the sixty-fifth birthday of NCSE‘s executive director Eugenie C. Scott. Edited by NCSE’s deputy director Glenn Branch (who contributed “Three wishes for Genie” by way of introduction), it contains essays…
Juvi Evo Book
Posted by Greg Laden on June 17, 2010 A ten page section of the kid’s book “Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be” is available for free download here, at the National Center for Science Education’s web site.
Natural Selection and Adaptation
Posted by Greg Laden on June 11, 2010 Chapter 11 of Futuyma’s book, Evolution, Second Edition, is available for free download as a PDF file HERE, courtesy of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE)
Darwin’s Origin: A Graphic Adaptation
Posted by Greg Laden on June 10, 2010 A chapter from a special graphic adaptation of Charles Darwin’s Origin, by Rodale Press, is available for free download from the National Center for Science Education. Click here for the PDF.
Radiations and Extinctions
Posted by Greg Laden on June 9, 2010 … biodiversity through the ages … There’s a story that scientists like to tell about the great evolutionary biologist J. B. S. Haldane. Supposedly, Haldane once found himself in the company of a group of theologians. They asked him what one could conclude about the nature of the Creator from a study of his creation.…
I might or might not be a science journalist
Posted by Greg Laden on June 9, 2010 One of the great things about Coturnix is that he brings two context-broadening tools to the table in any discussion: Synchronic and diachronic. In a recent post (Am I a Science Journalist? he adds the diachronic. I had not previously realized or considered (or at lest, not thought it relevant) that early science journalists were…
Antievolution legislation in Missouri dies
Posted by Greg Laden on May 20, 2010 Missouri’s latest contribution to ruining science education has died a merciful death before even reaching committee. This did not happen by itself. This happened because we are keeping an eye on them. We are watching you, Robert Wayne Cooper. And the rest of you. We are watching you too. Read the happy details at the…
Genie Scott Delivers Commencement Speech
Posted by Greg Laden on May 17, 2010 Fearless Leader of NCSE, Eugenie Scott, gave the University of Missouri Commencement Speech on Saturday. I’m sure they gave her an honorary degree for the speech, and I believe this makes Genie a PhD eight times over, earning her the name “Octodoc.” (And to think, I knew her when she had only one or two.…
New Anti-Evolution Pro-Fundy Christian Book, Reviewed
Posted by Greg Laden on April 21, 2010 C.E. Cupp is Ann Coulter before the bottle-blond crap is poured on her head, but maybe slightly less vile.1 She just came out with a new book: Losing Our Religion: The Liberal Media’s Attack on Christianity, which explains everything you had wrong if you were a progressive liberal in the education business. The book even…
Alert: Evolution Suppressed in Connecticut
Posted by Greg Laden on April 14, 2010 “Mr. Tangarone, a 17-year veteran of the Weston school system, claims that a program he wanted to teach about Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln was rejected by the school administration because it involved teaching evolution — the scientific theory that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor.”
Vote for Evolution!!!
Posted by Greg Laden on April 9, 2010 Credo (as in Working Assets) gives a percentage of its charges to various organizations. Now, there is a way for you to vote for which organization will get an infusion of cash. One of the choices is the NCSE.
BAT 2010: The Secular School
Posted by Greg Laden on April 7, 2010 This is my belated contribution to Blogging Against Theocracy.
Intelligent Design’s Legal Status after Dover
Posted by Greg Laden on April 2, 2010 First, there was plain and simple creationism, a Christian idea that, in an ideal Christian world, would be taught as part of any science dealing with the past, including biology (evolution), geology, and presumably history. But the constitution stood in the way of implementing basic Christian teachings in public schools in the United States, though…
, which is now available for the 
