Clipmarks | AtlLiberal's 'education' clips

Even Christian Schools Must Meet Standards

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:58:23 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Typically, apologists invoked the persecution gambit against UC. Always a sure bet when they run out of reasons to back their positions.

Clip Source: www.latimes.com

Murrieta Christian school loses case against UC

The University of California did not violate students' freedom of expression and religion when it rejected some classes at a Riverside-area Christian school from counting toward UC admission, a Los Angeles federal judge has ruled.

In a case that has attracted significant attention in religious and academic circles nationwide since it was filed in 2005, the judge upheld the university's decision to disqualify several classes offered by Calvary Chapel Christian School of Murrieta for being too narrow or not academically rigorous enough to fulfill UC's entrance requirements.

In a final ruling issued Friday, U.S. District Judge S. James Otero said UC demonstrated a rational basis for rejecting Calvary Christian's English, history, government and religion courses

The university's policy was constitutional despite allegations by the students and school of an anti-Christian bias, the judge said.

Tags: education, religion

Hallelujah!

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:58:50 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Finally a ray of hope in the God forsaken science blasphemies. I'll pray that you stay on the earth.

Clip Source: www.theonion.com

Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

KANSAS CITY, KS—As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools continues, a new controversy over the science curriculum arose Monday in this embattled Midwestern state. Scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning are now asserting that the long-held "theory of gravity" is flawed, and they have responded to it with a new theory of Intelligent Falling.

"Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but because a higher intelligence, 'God' if you will, is pushing them down," said Gabriel Burdett, who holds degrees in education, applied Scripture, and physics from Oral Roberts University.

"Gravity—which is taught to our children as a law—is founded on great gaps in understanding.

Tags: humor, science, satire

Gathering of the Loonies

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:06:05 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: And remember, you're promised a "dazzling array of world class speakers"!!! Such as Ken Ham, the creator of the Creationist Museum in Kentucky.

I suggest anyone within a 100 mile radius of this event stock up on flashlights and candles as you witness the advent of the Dark Ages.

Clip Source: rememberthycreator.com

The Pikes Peak Center Conference

The Beginning and the End of the Universe

The pre-conference events will include a special breakfast for pastors and other Christian education leaders on June 26, 2008, prior to the Conference. Dr. Henry Morris, III, CEO of the Institute for Creation Research will be our keynote speaker. We are working towards a goal of having at least 300 Pastors and Christian education leaders at this event. Every evangelical Pastor in the Pikes Peak region will be invited to be a special guest at our expense. Each guest will receive a free gift pack and there will be no solicitation of funds at this event.

Ken Ham
Answers in Genesis

The Conference itself will feature a dazzling array of world class speakers

As a bonus feature we will be offering a Creation-themed, world class dinosaur and fossil display presented by the Creation Truth Foundation.

Tags: creationism, science, religion

Small Steps Are a Start

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:49:49 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: No one has ever suggested that I am a friend of religion. Yet, for positive progress in the Middle East it apparently needs people that share that mindset to take a positive approach to deal with this issue.

Clip Source: www.jpost.com

Is religion good for peace?

If everything goes well and there are no surprises, as of next week the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) will for the first time be headed by a woman.

Dr. Devorah Weissman, a former professor of Jewish education at the Hebrew University, has since the Eighties been a member of the ICCJ. A modern Orthodox feminist, Weissman is a member of the dovish religious group Netivot Shalom, and for years headed the Kerem Institute for Teacher Training for Humanistic-Jewish Education.

Interestingly enough, Weissman believes her election to the position is not the most important issue at stake. Instead, she highlights the question of whether religion has a largely radicalizing influence or a positive impact on the relations between people. In other words, is religion good or bad for peace?

Tags: religion, middle east, war

Branding for Christ

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:14:21 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: A "science" teacher in Ohio is under scrutiny for mixing religion and science. This miscreant not only is a fundy nut but a liar too. I'm sure the kids in his class are getting the latest in science education (if they lived in the bronze age, that is).

Clip Source: dispatch.com

Report: Science teacher mixed religion, class

Read the report [PDF]" />

Investigators found that Mount Vernon teacher John Freshwater did burn crosses on some students' arms with an electrostatic device. Read the report [PDF]

A Mount Vernon science teacher burned crosses onto students’ arms, told students that gays are sinners and disobeyed his bosses by not removing all religious items from his classroom, a probe found.

While John Freshwater preached his Christian beliefs in his classroom, he also undermined the teaching of science in Mount Vernon Middle School by discrediting the theory of evolution, according to outside investigators hired by the district. The Dispatch obtained a copy of the report today.

Freshwater told investigators the marks were Xs — not crosses.

It said there is evidence that Freshwater told his class that science is wrong because the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin.

Tags: creationism, religion, education, school

Sex Education

Sun, 04 May 2008 16:39:21 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: From Austin Cline's blog, an illuminating exposé of Christian's attempts to sneak religious dogma into public schools.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

The growing body of evidence proving the failure of abstinence-only education is as irrelevant to Christian apologists as the failure to find any scientific evidence that would support Intelligent Design. They would like it if abstinence-only programs worked, but their failure is a minor matter compared to the potential of teaching Christian principles under the guise of neutral education standards. Getting Christian beliefs taught in public schools — and hopefully accepted by more people in America culture — is certainly wroth the trade-off of increasing numbers of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. After all, young girls shouldn't be having sex anyway, so they are only getting what they deserve.

Tags: religion, christian, sex, abstinence

Florida Creationist Shows Off

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:21:11 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Of course not all Floridians are this abjectly stupid. Although recent polls indicate that close to 50% prefer creationism over evolution. Take a peek at what a lack of science education can accomplish.

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

[Video]

Tags: creationism, christianity, religion, evolution

Texans for Education - 12th Century Style

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:01:34 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: How embarrassing it must be to live in Texas these days. Will we be witness the next time Houston has a problem with the Space Shuttle of their hurriedly convening a prayer circle to fix it?

Clip Source: www.upi.com

Texas official: Call it creationism degree

The Texas commissioner of higher education suggested that a creationist group call its proposed on-line science education degree a degree in creation studies.

The institute, in Dallas, said that most of the students in the program would be planning to teach in Christian schools. Patricia Nason, who heads the institute's science education department, said that the planned curriculum includes evolution and those who earn the master's degree would be qualified to teach in public schools.

The program is open only to students who believe that God created the universe in six days and that those who deny Jesus Christ face eternal damnation, the newspaper said. Adultery, homosexuality and fornication are banned.

"We're going to take a look at those issues," Paredes told the Morning News. "We're inviting representatives of ICR to respond to those kinds of questions."

Tags: religion, creationism

South Carolina Steps Up

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:31:11 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Did a light bulb light up somewhere? Are there some people that really care about education? Apparently so. Except for six holdouts a S. Carolina board of education actually voted to retain a biology textbook that did not include references to myth and fables. Let's hear it for sanity in the South.

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

It's not all bad news

Some states manage to pull their collective heads out of their butts and and do the right thing. There's good news from South Carolina:

Today, in a stunning reversal of votes, the State Board of Education approved the Miller/Levine Biology Textbook that was under scrutiny. The vote went from 9-7 (vote in December) in favor of dropping the Miller/Levine textbook to 10-6 in favor of keeping the textbook on the list. This is a major victory for science education in the palmetto state. Dr. Miller, along with approximately 20 SCSE members were on hand to offer advise, critiques and personal testimony in favor the Miller/Levine Biology text.

You go, South Carolina! Now all you have to do is get those 6 idiots who voted against evolution off the school board — you're 62% of the way to joining the 20th century!

Tags: evolution, religion, education

Florida Religionists Cling to Myth

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:16:45 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: As in Texas, Florida is also debating whether or not to include Intelligent Design in its science curriculum. Following the Dover Pennsylvania trial you'd think these yahoos would have gotten the word. ID is not science. We'll have to wait and see if they cling to their Bronze Age myths or join the rest of us who live in a reality based world.

Clip Source: www.sptimes.com

On evolution, case closed

Most Pinellas County School Board members say public school students should be taught about intelligent design, a supernatural explanation for the origins of life, alongside the scientifically grounded theory of evolution. Meanwhile, Eric Smith, the state's new education commissioner, curiously refuses to publicly say whether evolution should be taught in science classes or whether intelligent design should be included.

As the judge found, "every scientific association that has spoken on the matter" has rejected the challenge to evolution mounted by proponents of intelligent design.

Pinellas School Board members and the state education commissioner might reflect on the judge's comprehensive review and conclusions before they speak again about an accepted scientific theory they apparently know little about.

Tags: religion, science, creationism, evolution

Education Cowards

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:47:59 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Another "educational" institution bothered by the Christian Evolution Police. They claim they don't want to offend anyone's sensitive religious feelings. What a bunch of crap.

Clip Source: www.hollandsentinel.com

Evolution challenging to teach

When it comes to the topic of evolution, Grand Valley State University anthropology professor Judith Corr sees religion and science as two different ways of knowing things -- but many of her students don't agree.

Education content in high schools is mandated by the state, but teachers walk a tightrope between the state and parents who may have contrary opinions regarding evolution.

State course content expectations stipulate various details of evolution that students must be taught. In October of last year, the state board of education took a stance against language in the course content expectations that would have left the door open for schools to avoid teaching evolution.

"I also tell them, don't expect me to tell you the truth, because I don't know the truth, I just know what science tells me."

Tags: education, evolution, science, fundamentalists

Creationism Liars in Texas

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:02:23 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Anyone who buys the crap these Texas Education Agency members put out get exactly what they deserve. Their repeated denial that they are not anxious to sneak their creationist dogma into Texas biology classes is so patently absurd to be laughable. In fact, one is tempted to propose that their purpose is to guarantee that Texas school children turn out to be as abjectly stupid as they are themselves.

Clip Source: www.dallasnews.com

Teaching of evolution to go under microscope

The resignation of the state's science curriculum director last month has signaled the beginning of what is shaping up to be a contentious and politically charged revision of the science curriculum, set to begin in earnest in January.

Former science director Chris Comer says she resigned from the Texas Education Agency to avoid being fired after officials told her she had improperly endorsed evolution. She had forwarded an e-mail announcing a speech by a prominent scholar on evolution, which the state requires schools to teach.

Ms. Comer said last week during an interview in her Leander home. "We have teachers afraid to teach it, parents who don't want it taught and parents who do want it taught. It comes from all different angles."

They stress that they aren't pushing for schools to teach creationism or intelligent design

But their opponents argue that there is no debate: Research consistently supports evolution.

Tags: creationism, education, texas, science, biology

Religion/Science - Oil/Water

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:19:43 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: No matter what mental rationalization you've thought up the bottom line is that science and religion are at odds with one another. Ask anyone who has waded through the tortured reasoning of theists to reconcile their beliefs with scientific facts knows that believing in talking snakes, burning bushes, Jewish zombies, or virgin births has to forgo reality and enter a world of myth and fairy tales. Ordinarily this could be viewed as simply a character quirk. But unfortunately it has wider reaching consequences. We are dumbing down our children because of irrational belief in a bronze age culture's view of the world. In our society, ignorance is thought charming while intelligence is "elitism". How ass backwards is this?

Clip Source: www.ajc.com

U.S. student scores grim

Could playing politics account for how badly Americans stack up in science and math?

A month after Texas ran off its director of science education for failing to stay "neutral" on evolution, an international assessment reveals that U.S. students trail their peers around the world in science literacy.

Anyone see a connection?

In defense of the swift retribution against Comer, a Texas Education Agency spokeswoman said its employees cannot appear to side with any "camp" and should not express personal opinions and beliefs.

Evolution is not a camp, personal opinion or belief. It is the unifying principle of modern biology.

Faith leads some people to believe human life is the work of a cosmic designer rather than an evolutionary process of natural selection. But science tells us that life on Earth is the result of four billion years of evolution, verifiable through fossils, mutating viruses and molecular biology.

Tags: theology, science, education

No One Can Be This Stupid?

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:59:25 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: I'm not sure what offends me more. How abjectly stupid this person is or that she isn't ashamed of her stupidity. Ignorance is one thing but to tout sheer stupidity as a positive character aspect is beyond the pale. Sure, I'd love to spend an evening with this person but that relates purely to biological urgings. There comes a time when I'm sure she'd open her mouth and the magic would be gone.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: humor, education, culture, pop

The Fight's Far From Over

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:19:47 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Dover was just one case. Look to Texas for the next slugfest between legitimate science and the bible thumpers at the Discovery Institute. Should prove to be interesting. My personal hope is that the DI receives the same thrashing in Texas as they did in Dover. Safe to say this group is not in the slightest interested in science, truth or integrity.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Official Leaves Post as Texas Prepares to Debate Science Education Standards

HOUSTON, Dec. 2 — After 27 years as a science teacher and 9 years as the Texas Education Agency’s director of science, Christine Castillo Comer said she did not think she had to remain “neutral” about teaching the theory of evolution.

But now Ms. Comer, 56, of Austin, is out of a job, after forwarding an e-mail message on a talk about evolution and creationism — “a subject on which the agency must remain neutral,” according to a dismissal letter last month that accused her of various instances of “misconduct and insubordination” and of siding against creationism and the doctrine that life is the product of “intelligent design.”

Her departure, which has stirred dismay among science professionals since it became public last week, is a prelude to an expected battle early next year over rewriting the state’s science education standards, which include the teaching of evolution.

Tags: creationism, evolution.id