Couric: How do you feel about creationism? Do you think it should be taught in schools?Two things to note. First, this is exactly Sarah Palin's position, and also John McCain's, as well as George Bush's. Second, the issue in the question isn't "education of any kind," it's miseducation. And it's unacceptable that the McCains and Palin have all come out in favor of that.McCain: I think both sides should be taught in schools. I think the more children have a frame of reference and an opportunity to read and know and make better decisions and judgments when they are adults. So, I think you know I don't have any problem with education of any kind.
Thoughts from Kansas
You will notice that it lacks definiteness; that it lacks purpose; that it lacks coherence; that it lacks a subject to talk about; that it is loose and wabbly; that it wanders around; that it loses itself early and does not find itself any more. --Mark Twain
Search
Profile
Joshua Rosenau spends his days defending the teaching of evolution at the National Center for Science Education. He is formerly a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas, in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When not battling creationists or modeling species ranges, he writes about developments in progressive politics and the sciences.
The opinions expressed here are his own, do not reflect the official position of the NCSE. Indeed, older posts may no longer reflect his own official position.
Sb/DonorsChoose Drive
Thanks!
Recent Posts
- His genes made him do it
- Pascal's lament and E. B. White
- Free contraception for everyone!
- Godwin's Law
- NCSE takes on climate change
- A new identity?
- Belief is part of identity
- Endlessly classy
- Does Jerry Coyne read his own blog?
- Disco. 'tute: Dawkins too scary for kids, too mean to miracles
Recent Comments
- Anthony McCarthy on Free contraception for everyone!
- Marion Delgado on Godwin's Law
- Anthony McCarthy on Godwin's Law
- Greg Laden on Belief is part of identity
- Ender on Does Jerry Coyne read his own blog?
- BillD on NCSE takes on climate change
- GeorgeA on NCSE takes on climate change
- James Hrynyshyn on NCSE takes on climate change
- robertm on NCSE takes on climate change
- Steffanee Maguire on Belief is part of identity
Archives
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- August 2004
Subscribe to TfK:
Accolades
Good posts from history
The Birth of Intelligent Falling
A failure of Intelligent Design
Why it's called Intelligent Design Creationism
Support TfK
Buy me things from my Amazon.com wishlist.
Buy yourself things!
Add yourself to the Frappr map!
« Palin-genesis: Too extreme for (Cindy) McCain | Main | Surgin': McSame and Palin-spastic don't care about ________ people »
McCain favors teaching creationism
Category: Policy and Politics
Posted on: September 7, 2008 12:34 AM, by Josh Rosenau
Find more posts in: 
Politics
PoliticsTrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/80543
Comments
She didn't push for it as governor.
Posted by: Ken | September 7, 2008 1:14 AM
Palin is being smeared as governor she didn't push for creationism. This lady has been destroyed by lies. Enough already. Actually look at her record as governor.
Posted by: Ken | September 7, 2008 1:15 AM
Ken, quote the part of Joshua's post that is a smear or a lie.
Posted by: jake | September 7, 2008 1:43 AM
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html
Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night's televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."
In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:
"I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."
You can argue that this by itself does not necessarily mean that she's a creationist, but at the very least it shows complete ignorance of the science being discussed. And she also uses the typical creationist/ID rhetoric: "teach both sides", "allow students to question the theory and make up their own minds".
And although the article mentions that she won't push for creationism to be part of the curriculum, it also states that as governor she appoints members of the Alaska school board, who in turn set the minimum requirements.
Posted by: Darek | September 7, 2008 2:17 AM
Call it disinformation. Kids end up stupider than when they started.
Incidentally, whenever someone advocates 'both sides', there is a duty to demand to know which version of the wrong side should be taught -- Islamic, Judaic, Hindu, Shinto ....
If they say Christian, then demand to know if the Roman Catholic version or the Mormon version should be taught.
Posted by: Bill the Cat | September 7, 2008 9:54 AM
Palin now says that "she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms". She's backtracking because she knows how controversial her views are. Initially she said, "teach both". Teaching is different from just allowing the duscussion to arise.
Posted by: JoAnn | September 7, 2008 1:10 PM
Guys, check this out. Fake-Based Education
http://obamav.com/rebuilding-america.html
Down at the bottom of the page.
/Gary
Posted by: Gary Meeg | September 7, 2008 4:06 PM
JoAnn: If a teacher is presenting a topic, that is teaching. How the topic comes up is irrelevant. In science class, the right response to a question about creationism is to refer the discussion to a social studies teacher, a parent, or a clergymember.
Posted by: Josh Rosenau | September 7, 2008 8:26 PM
Yeah, just like sex education! They have a great "teach both sides" strategy there, except they call it "abstinence-only" for some strange reason.
Posted by: pough | September 8, 2008 6:03 PM