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What public schools, in US cities, are teaching christian mythology as though it were science? That is a rare problem and I really rather doubt that many peopl

by jlgreco 13y ago

What public schools, in US cities, are teaching christian mythology as though it were science? That is a rare problem and I really rather doubt that many people are homeschooling their children because their public schools are insufficiently secular. If you have really found yourself in that sort of situation, there are plenty of organizations that would love to get involved there... Your school doesn't have the money for fancy microscopes? Welcome to society; get involved with it and fix it. > Does my exposure I thought I was clear: exposure to religion in an education is not what concerns me (unless, of course, it is in a public school). The RCC, for all of its numerous faults, has their schools in developed countries teaching proper science, not religion in place of science (for the most part), and not in the same class. They are pretty damn low on my list of concerns. My concern is with adults deciding to swap out science lessons with religion lessons. This is what the majority of homeschoolers do, and this is what many protestant religious schools do. > If I'm doing something extreme or harmful to my child Denying your child access to a basic science education is exactly that. Children have a right to receive and education and parents have absolutely no right to deprive 'their' children of that. Explanation by example: You want to send your kid to Catholic School where he can learn proper biology and latin prayers or whatever shit? Cool, knock yourself out. You want to send your kid to public school where he can learn biology, then teach him that Jesus rode dinosaurs when he comes home at the end of the day? Cool, knock yourself out. You want to keep your kids out of schools that teach biology and instead only expose your child to Dino-Cowboy Jesus theory? Then you should have your children taken away from you, as you are clearly incapable of raising them.

euroclydon 13y ago
> Then you should have your children taken away from you, as you are clearly incapable of raising them. Have you seen a foster home? I don't think you would say this if you had much experience with the foster child programs.
PebblesRox 13y ago
The books that I read when I was homeschooled did a good job of explaining evolution while also presenting counter-arguments for creationism and intelligent design. When I went to public high school I didn't notice any gaps in my knowledge when compared to the rest of my biology class. I'm wondering what you think of that; is that different from what you meant by swapping out science lessons or is it close enough in your eyes? Do you think my experience was the exception to the rule when it comes to homeschoolers? How do you know what most homeschoolers teach? (I'm honestly curious; not just trying to argue with you.)
- jlgreco 13y ago
  Intelligent design is creationism and has no business whatsoever being in a science class. There are no scientific counter arguments. Presenting religious arguments in science lessons qualifies as swapping out science with religion, no matter how much those lessons teach you the opposing position (generally only done so that the student is able to "lie" on standardized testing). Think of it this way: would it be acceptable to teach kids in chemistry, "...and that kids, is the periodic table of elements. Of course WE know that there are five elements, which are represented by these five Platonic solids. We know this for the [holybook] tells us so."? Children have a right to receive a science education that has not been purposely sabotaged. If parents want to give their child such a blatantly slanted education, then it needs to be in addition to a proper education. That you made it out alright says nothing of the acceptability of such abuse.
  - PebblesRox 13y ago
    Thanks for explaining your views; I think I understand you better now. I disagree that it would have been a good thing for me to have been taken away from my parents because of the curriculum they chose. I can't even imagine what that would have done to me and my siblings.

by jlgreco 13y ago

euroclydon 13y ago

> Then you should have your children taken away from you, as you are clearly incapable of raising them. Have you seen a foster home? I don't think you would say this if you had much experience with the foster child programs.

PebblesRox 13y ago

The books that I read when I was homeschooled did a good job of explaining evolution while also presenting counter-arguments for creationism and intelligent design. When I went to public high school I didn't notice any gaps in my knowledge when compared to the rest of my biology class. I'm wondering what you think of that; is that different from what you meant by swapping out science lessons or is it close enough in your eyes? Do you think my experience was the exception to the rule when it comes to homeschoolers? How do you know what most homeschoolers teach? (I'm honestly curious; not just trying to argue with you.)

jlgreco 13y ago
Intelligent design is creationism and has no business whatsoever being in a science class. There are no scientific counter arguments. Presenting religious arguments in science lessons qualifies as swapping out science with religion, no matter how much those lessons teach you the opposing position (generally only done so that the student is able to "lie" on standardized testing). Think of it this way: would it be acceptable to teach kids in chemistry, "...and that kids, is the periodic table of elements. Of course WE know that there are five elements, which are represented by these five Platonic solids. We know this for the [holybook] tells us so."? Children have a right to receive a science education that has not been purposely sabotaged. If parents want to give their child such a blatantly slanted education, then it needs to be in addition to a proper education. That you made it out alright says nothing of the acceptability of such abuse.
- PebblesRox 13y ago
  Thanks for explaining your views; I think I understand you better now. I disagree that it would have been a good thing for me to have been taken away from my parents because of the curriculum they chose. I can't even imagine what that would have done to me and my siblings.