When the topic of creationism in science classrooms comes up these days, the 2005 Dover trial inevitably comes up, but earlier that same year everyone was worrying about science standards in Kansas. This earlier confrontation is the focus of a documentary film released onto DVD, Kansas vs Darwin, which takes a look at the controversy that erupted over science in that state. Here's the trailer;
I haven't seen it yet (I only just found out about it a few moments ago!), but it looks pretty good. It seems similar to the PBS special on the Dover trial, particularly in terms of focusing on the controversy itself and letting people from both sides speak their mind. (That said, the filmmakers have been doing some promotions with the Texas Freedom Network, so I'm not too worried about there being a surprise, pro-creationist ending.) I will definitely pick up a copy soon, but if you have already seen it, feel free to share what you thought of it in the comments.
- Log in to post comments
In science you have to use imperialism!?!?!? Haha
On the flip side, there is a 5-hour piece "Teaching Origins Objectively" that looks at the Kansas evolution hearings as well...
http://www.arn.org/arnproducts/php/video_show_item.php?id=75
Michael D. Barton
What a crock. 5 hours to set back science teaching? Crawl back under your rock.
There IS NO CONTROVERSY. Small minded, unscientific (read religious) fools don't like the science. Teach your kids at home so that creationist pollution doesn't contaminate the rest of the minds still open. We'll need those minds to compete in science in the future while your kids serve hamburgers.
Um, Mike, Mr. Barton is a good friend of mine and author of The Dispersal of Darwin, a very fine history of science blog. Maybe you should have checked who he was before going into a vitriolic tirade about him and his children.
He was sharing something to show what creationists have been up to, and his comment didn't in any way endorse the resource. Not only do you owe him an apology, but you might want to actually check out the identity of the people you're insulting before you hit "submit" next time.
If I recall Panda's Thumb's reactions to the Kangaroo Court, the DI were making a big deal about how the science side wasn't going to show up, but when the "trial" actually happened, the lawyer for the science side did a fine job showing up the logical and ethical fallacies of the DI without any need to bring additional witnesses. Just like Behe in Dover, their own words can and did trip them up far too easily.
Mike, you might want to go easy on Michael D. Barton and snap out of the attack mode. Looking at his blog he's very much on our side.
By "On the flip side, there is a 5-hour piece "Teaching Origins Objectively" " he clearly means "The bad news is that there's another 5 hour video out that claims to be about teaching origins objectively but is actually a complete pile of poo".
Am I right?
Ooops,
Michael Barton, I read the link and through my own steam misrepresented your involvement it seems. The attack stands but clearly not at you but at whoever is sponsoring those "Teach the Controversy" lessons. Please accept my apologies.
A day without a misplaced grievance on the Internet would be like a day without sunshine.
I'll have to check this one out. It looks like a lot of the same characters from 'Flock of Dodos'.
A film review/comparison might be in store.
Brian,
I haven't seen this documentary yet, but then again I don't think I have to...IDist are using the same schtick they used in Dover (and I imagine this will be similar to Flock of Dodos, which I enjoyed). Personal belief[religious or otherwise] is fine; but religion has no place in school and I'll be damned if something like "teaching the controversy" were acceptable in public schools. It is no wonder we fall short on the worldwide stage when people fear something they haven't seen and cannot prove but mock a theory that has repeatedly been supported by actual scientific evidence.
Blake Stacey: A day without a misplaced grievance on the Internet would be like a day without sunshine.
Perhaps more like a fish without gills.
Mike, apology accepted. I have a son who is almost three, so there's a while until he will be learning science in public schools. By then I hope the issue goes away, but if in any event it creeps into whatever community I am living in at the time, I will surely help to smack it down... keep a close eye on your local school boards. In Darby, MT in 2004 (one year before Dover), the community pulled together and voted out 2 members of the school board who supported and helped to pass an "objective origins" policy (i.e., intelligent design), and brought the board back to a pro-evolution stance. What is scary is that one of anti-evolution school board members (a voted on position!) did not even have a high school diploma.
Kudos to Brian and Paul for defending me so quickly!
Michael Barton,
You do have some very quick defenders indeed. Enjoy that 3 year old over the upcoming holidays (and even after I suppose:-)). My youngest (now 20) was able to laugh at the idiocy often around her in rural MD through books and exchanges with open minded parents. My older son was tougher because he didn't read much. There were a couple of sharp exchanges when his high school induced homophobia began to show. We talked about it and argued and more than winning the argument, he saw he was allowed to argue with adults about ideas. Very useful for opening minds to new ideas.
If MT can overcome the stupidity then there's hope for my rural county.