"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. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject -- creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."
61 comments
"Don't be afraid of education."
Like sex-ed, you mean? Comprehensive sex-ed? Birth control? THAT information?
Or wait--is that the wrong kind of information?
Blatant hypocrisy hurts my eyes, Sarah.
We're not afraid of information, we're afraid of MISinformation. What you're advocating is similar to saying though the smart people know that Switzerland is in Europe, we should also teach that it is in South America.
Mild as this quote is compared to the usual vitriol of contributors to this site, it's positively acidic when one considers who this person is... Our government should be a secular one, and no person who would consider changing that to even the mildest degree should ever be in any position of power.
Besides, that whole 'teach both' or 'teach the controversy' thing reeks of a wedge argument to me... But then again, I am honestly terrified of these people and what they are doing to the US. Maybe I'm just letting them get to me...
Palin, you are, frankly, lacking information, and much of it, if you think it's a good idea to "teach both sides". Especially in a Science classroom.
Science does not teach both sides. Science is the search for truth, and people without even entry-level education in the subjects are hardly qualified to debate such topics. You may as well be asking a burger flipper at McDonald's to have a debate about brain surgery techniques.
Nevermind the fact that Creationism is, in whatever form it may take, not science. It is not science now, it was not science in the past, and it will never be science in the future. It is religious dogma, and thus has no place in the public school system. Religion is to be taught at home or in church. School is for teaching children to be functional adults, to give them the basic knowledge of the world around them. Evolution, with its mountains of evidence, qualifies. Creationism, with it's evidence that consists of a few passages written in a bronze-age document, most assuredly does not.
Is it sad if I think that this is the least insane thing that Ms. Palin has said? Ever?
I've heard the "Teach Both" argument since forever, and it's that I'm afraid of information, I'm afraid of the damage that misinformation can do to a kid.
Jimmy wants to kill all the kittens in the world
Johnny thinks that we should kill none.
Therefore, the best thing to do is to kill 50% of all kittens.
This is a fallacy. There are not "different perspectives to be debated" to the issue, and if we are going to allow people to do that, then it would be perfectly consistent to offer equal time for arguments in favor of white supremacy in courses on politics, or pro-alchemy arguments in chemistry classes.
Would Palin support science teachers ripping apart Genesis? Heck, no. She and other fundies would be at the school with torches and pitchforks. What people really mean when they say "teach both sides" is "teach evolution, then give creationists a free shot at it".
Perhaps you really believe this; in that case, you're an idiot. Perhaps you're just pandering to your ignorant followers; in that case, you're a shameless demagogue.
Either way, you are unfit to serve as dogcatcher in a backwoods Alaskan town, much less John McCain's terminal backup. And your choice as running mate tells us more than we need to know about his judgment and ability.
nfp: Of course, the difference between Gov. Palin and Carico, Supersport, LW et al is that none of the latter stand a good chance of being a heart attack away from leading the most powerful nation in the world (even if its economy is poised to go down the drain). The best thing to do IMO is make sure as many people as possible know about quotes of hers such as this.
I would love to see a lesson plan for a creationism class.
Step 1: Gesture toward sun and sky. Say "Goddidit."
Step 2: There is no Step 2.
I taught my daughters science and answered their questions with facts and reason.
I entertained my daughters with fairy tales.
Do you see the difference?
In my 8th-grade science class, we did learn about creationism. We learned that people used to believe it before they knew better and how the facts support evolution instead. You're welcome, and have a blessed day.
Sure, as long as you're teaching the creationism part of that in the comparative religion courses, no problem.
(EDIT: I really don't think this country can survive 4 years of this harpy's idiocy even as Vice President after the last 8 years of our current Jackass-in-Chief.)
Giving lies equal weight as facts is idiotic in the extreme. Of course, that's what Flippy (McCain) and Chippy (Palin) are basing their hopes on. If lies and facts are equal, they win. Jebus, save us from those who would destroy all that's best in this World. In your name.
And if that doesn't work? There are always Third World countries that may survive the fall. I hear Costa Rica is nice.
Sure thing, as long as you won't mind having Islam taught in your church along with Christianity. After all, kids need to decide for themselves and welcome debate, right?
Perhaps you really believe this; in that case, you're an idiot.
She's an idiot. At least according to this article, she believes humans and dinosaurs coexisted. Take it for what it is, since it doesn't look like anyone in the media has the balls to actually ask these questions of The Queen.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/bess/index1.html
I wonder she'd be saying the same thing if the holocaust deniers wanted their theory taught in history class? We can't be afraid of infomation after all, why not let the kids debate both sides? Come to think of it, the Flat Earth Society might be interested in contributing to the Geography curriculum as well.
Actually, I'd LOVE to have Intelligent design taught in public schools. Easiest class day ever.
Science Teacher: OK, so.... Today we cover creationism. Anyone know what it is? Yes Jimmy?
Jimmy: God did it?
Teacher: Right on. Any questions?
Sarah: So why do we have vestigal organs?
TEacher: Goddidit.
Bob: What supports this theory?
Teacher: Goddidit.
Lauren: Is this scientific?
Teacher: Uhhh.... Goddidit. Any more questions?
-Deafening silence, followed by teacher shrugging and sitting down, while the kids goof off for the rest of the class-
Teach both, and give proportional time by the evidence.
"All right class, today we're covering intelligent design. Somebody wrote in a book that this may have happened, but science has disproven everything and/or it's contradicted itself. Now, we can move onto evolution..."
Both evolution and creationism should be taught:
Evolution in science classrooms,
Creationism in society and environment or philosophy.
Sorry Sarah, but if you want to teach Creationism, go to your church and do so, keep it out of public schools.
["Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information
]
Nobody’s afraid of information, Sarah.
["Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools.]
Debate is important and valuable. Teaching children schlock and telling them it’s science is disingenuous and hurtful.
"Magic man done it" is not science, Sarah. You'd do well to learn the difference.
[But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."]
So you’d be OK with kids debating information in bible class, then?
Ms. Palin, your response would be wholly appropriate for the humanities and arts.
In science, however, "healthy debate" requires healthy evidence or I could further waste class time by proposing the entire world was created by Mickey Mouse sneezing.
Okay, but also include creation "theories" other than the Genesis version. There are many, not least the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Astrology and alchemy also have to be taught, give the children the information and let them decide. Don't teach that the earth is a sphere orbiting the sun without teaching the alternative. You should not be afraid to teach geocenricism and the flat earth theory.
Let's encourage them to debate the result of adding 2 + 2, and let them debate just which blob of land on the map is Spain and which is Venezuela. Let's let them debate whether string acid is safe to drink and debate whether Washington won a battle by crossing the Delaware or crossing the Missouri.
Idiot. Let people debate evolution after they've been educated enough to comprehend the arguments. That would be when they've completed college, have a PhD in biology/genetics, and a few years post-doc. That's a debate that might be meaningful. I'm pretty sure they won't change the science, though.
Dr. Buzz Aldrin accepts the proven facts that the Earth isn't flat, and is the exact age of the Moon: 4.5 billion years. He gained his Ph.D in MIT. The process of he earning that Doctorate.
Dr. Aldrin is a Conservative Christian.
Unlike him, why are you so afraid of Reality?!
Reality in 1969:
image
Because unlike you , Sarah FAILin: he's not a quitter .
Winners never quit, and quitters never win
-Vince Lombardi
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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