Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law

SirJosephPorter

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Nov 7, 2008
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Alberta government has proposed a law whereby teaching of evolution in Alberta schools will be optional. Parent will be allowed to pull their children out of evolution classes.

Alberta already has a reputation for a redneck province; this legislation probably will reinforce that reputation. In addition, Alberta will probably subject to world ridicule, if this news gets world prominence.

It happened a few years ago to Kansas, when they passed a pro-Creationism, anti-evolution education policy. Reporters from world over descended on Kansas, and the state was the object of jokes, scorn and ridicule. Eventually Kansas realized its mistake, threw the Creationists out of office and elected representatives who restored sanity to education policy.

However, I understand religious right is very strong in Alberta, so I don’t see this legislation reversed in a hurry. However, this will have far reaching implications for Alberta. One is that Alberta will become a permanent butt of jokes, an object of ridicule.

The other is that Alberta students may have difficulty getting admission to biology courses at university level. If a student has not learned evolution at high school level, that is a serious impediment to taking biology courses at university level. Alberta students will be the losers in the end.

The winners of course, will be the religious right and the Conservative government of Alberta. Anyway as far as I am concerned, this reinforced Alberta’s reputation as the Bible Belt of Canada, as a redneck province.

Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Hey, if you want to pull your kids out of classes that deal with evolution and homosexuality, go right ahead.

More space in medical school for other people.

Who cares?
 

captain morgan

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Mar 28, 2009
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That is exactly the point.... Th rights of the individual to pursue whatever direction they want regardless of whether that is accepted/unaccepted, right/wrong, conventional/unconventional.
 

Cannuck

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Feb 2, 2006
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"Parents can ask for their child to be excluded from the discussion."

I'm surprised SJP has a problem with this. He excludes himself from discussions here because hew doesn't like the content (or at least believes he doesn't like the content...since he doesn't read the content, he can only assume what it is).

Now, as far as the legislation is concerned, as an Albertan I do not agree with ignoring things that are uncomfortable. I believe that religion has no place in schools however, what folks like SJP (that's code for uninformed) don't seem to understand is that rural Alberta has an increasing Mennonite and Hutterite population. If these groups decided to abandon the public school system and go on their own, many rural schools would close. This legislation is an attempt to placate these populations and keep rural schools open. It's just one of a number of steps that have been taken. Our local elementary school has a full time German teacher and classes taught in German.

The real issue is whether people should be required to attend public schools or not. As long as they have the option of not participating, the government has to throw them a bone to get them to play the game.
 

Tonington

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Oct 27, 2006
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Any course matter that deals explicitly with religion? That's dumb. Evolution doesn't even deal with religion explicitly. Implicitly, yes.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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So ... is the "redneck province" jab and the cross-wired facts just more bait for the troll? Pity the OP doesn't practice as he preaches
 
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Cliffy

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Nov 19, 2008
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Perhaps we should trust the innate intelligence of the students and tell them about both and let them make up their own minds. Who do we or their parents think we are that we make decisions about what is acceptable for them to learn. Children are not stupid. They have the capacity to make their own minds up.

Adults are the stupid ones. Their thinking becomes more dogmatic and inflexible, the older they get. We don't own our children. They are not lumps of clay for us to mold. They have a right to experiment and make mistakes. It is how we learn. But some people stop learning because they are afraid they might learn that what they thought was true may turn out to be wrong and then they will feel stupid. Well, retarding your growth is stupid. Retarding your child's grow is gross stupidity.
 

earth_as_one

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Jan 5, 2006
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A biology class that doesn't include evolution, would be like an automotive class that doesn't include the principles behind internal combustion engine. Evolution is a critical part of science which explains how were got here and where we are going. The current flu pandemic is an example of flu virus evolution.

Should parents be able to opt out their children out of cartography classes which portray the world as a sphere rather than flat?

Should law school also include study of witches and possession by evil spirits?

Please keep religion out of schools unless its in regard to theology classes.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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A biology class that doesn't include evolution, would be like an automotive class that doesn't include the principles behind internal combustion engine. Evolution is a critical part of science which explains how were got here and where we are going. The current flu pandemic is an example of flu virus evolution.

Should parents be able to opt out their children out of cartography classes which portray the world as a sphere rather than flat?

Should law school also include study of witches and possession by evil spirits?

Please keep religion out of schools unless its in regard to theology classes.

You're mixing up the concept of taking your kids OUT of classes that teach certain subjects, with the concept of TEACHING other subjects.

Slow down, and read it again.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
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Nakusp, BC
The real story does not include approval NOT to teach evolution, rather it allows attendance in these classes to be optional.

As long as those are the student's decision to make, that is fine. I don't think parents are qualified to make up their child's mind.
 

Nuggler

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Feb 27, 2006
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Completely irresponsible legislation, pandering to the religious right to ensure one's re-election. Did well for Dubya, no? Sooner or later the people wake up.

Imagine a kid graduating from school believing in creationism only, and getting plunked down in a world populated with people who have "other ideas". I would not like to be he/she.

Like Tenpenny says, more room for others.

My take is; whatever.
 

earth_as_one

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Jan 5, 2006
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I understand the story. My point is that religious beliefs should not interfere with education based on science. Should a parent be able to pull my children out of geography because they teach the earth is a sphere and it conflicts with their religious belief that the earth is flat?

Its possible that as we learn more about the nature of the universe through science, we may eventually learn that evolution and creation theory don't conflict fundamentally as they appear to do now.

Going back to the flat earth vs spherical earth theories, Galileo was convicted of making claims which were false and contrary to Scripture, because it was believed that if the world was a sphere, everyone would not be able to see the Messiah at the same time as per references in the bible. But if the Messiah returns, we'll all watch his interview on Larry King at the same time... The prophecy is still possible despite the commonly accepted theory that the earth is a sphere.
 

Dexter Sinister

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Oct 1, 2004
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Way to go Alberta. :roll: Just what we need, more contributions to ignorance. That makes as much sense as pulling kids out of a physics class when it comes to discussing the contributions of Faraday and Maxwell. Actually it's worse than that. You can't teach or understand biology at all without evolution, it's the great unifying idea of biological science and one of the best-attested, widest ranging scientific theories we have. What are they going to do, set different examinations for the kids who skipped the unit on evolution and give them a pass in biology when they understand nothing about it?

At least people who skip it aren't likely to go on to be biologists, or scientists of any sort, but they will grow up to spread that particular brand of ignorance.
 

captain morgan

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Mar 28, 2009
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I understand the story. My point is that religious beliefs should not interfere with education based on science. Should a parent be able to pull my children out of geography because they teach the earth is a sphere and it conflicts with their religious belief that the earth is flat?


To start, no 'parent' will be able to pull your children out of any classes... This move by the gvt of AB will allow the parents to exclude their own children from the class... The classes aren't banned or pulled from the curriculum.

This issue is all about individual rights... I noticed that there are a number of posters braying-on about disallowing this solely based on their personal opinions, but suffice to say, they are the same people that demand that the individual rights of certain groups must be upheld and supported in order to be an inclusive society.

Where is that sentiment now?

Coincidentally, i was reading a thread yesterday that was critical of our existing scientific community and the suggestion was offered that science is the new religion of the 20th century... An interesting juxtaposition.