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Teach Science, Not "Intelligent Design"
Target: Your State GovernorSponsored by: Defcon - Campaign to Defend the Constitution
Studies show that American children are falling behind children in other nations in their knowledge and understanding of science. But instead of improving the quality of science education, movements across the country are trying to substitute ideology for fact in our classrooms.
The freedom of religion and the quality of public education are being put to the test in schoolrooms across the country. Recently, the Kansas State School Board revised its statewide science standards to undermine the teaching of evolution. Their decision opens the door for curriculums based on "intelligent design" and creationism.
But the problem with this policy is that science is based on facts and testable predictions; religion is based on faith. And unfortunately, "intelligent design" is no more than religious creationism dressed up with a new name. A quality science education teaches children to weigh evidence, think critically, and apply the scientific method to test theories. A study of "Intelligent design" does none of these things.
For the sake of our children and the competitiveness of our country, urge your state governor to defend the integrity of science education in our schools!
The freedom of religion and the quality of public education are being put to the test in schoolrooms across the country. Recently, the Kansas State School Board revised its statewide science standards to undermine the teaching of evolution. Their decision opens the door for curriculums based on "intelligent design" and creationism.
But the problem with this policy is that science is based on facts and testable predictions; religion is based on faith. And unfortunately, "intelligent design" is no more than religious creationism dressed up with a new name. A quality science education teaches children to weigh evidence, think critically, and apply the scientific method to test theories. A study of "Intelligent design" does none of these things.
For the sake of our children and the competitiveness of our country, urge your state governor to defend the integrity of science education in our schools!
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Teach Science, Not "Intelligent Design"” petition!
# 25,662:
# 25,661:
# 25,660:
# 25,659:
# 25,658:
# 25,657:
The Teaching of Science, and the Scientific Method is what belongs in public schools and state universities; Religon and Faith do not. "Intelligent" is an oxymoron when used in the phrase Intelligent Design. "ID" is just Creationism re-hashed and dressed up with a new name. Frankly, it is embarressing to our country that our government and schools even consider including "ID" in any type of Science Education. I will actively work and vote against any Public Servant who advocates "ID".
# 25,656:
# 25,655:
Evolution as taught in schools reflects universal, generally agreed-on knowledge about the subject. Even though I am a firm believer in God's government of the universe, and therefore even though I believe believe in Intelligent design, the big question is, "Whose version of intelligent design is going to be taught in schools?" There are many, many different religious groups and views of how God created the universe. Do advocates of teaching intelligent design want me to determine that my view is the one that will be taught, rather than theirs? I defend their right to teach their version in their churches or temples without my intereference. But not in my school to my children.
# 25,654:
# 25,653:
Religious schools in Pakistan created a monster from another religion. The Christain Right wants to teach children nonsense, stories and fables. This does not bode well for a nation whose economy depends on leading the world with a technological edge. Rest assured China, Japan and Europe have not incumbered themselves with this claptrap. Keep faith in church! Keep education at school.
# 25,652:
Sir: This country grew great by maintaining the separation between religion and governance. There is a trend afoot these days to bring religion into public schools, under the name of "Intelligent Design". Once this camel gets it's nose under the tent we will never get it back out - and the scientific advances that made us what we now are will end. Religion should be taught as religion, and science as science - do not allow the line to be blurred.
# 25,651:
Senator Barak Obama,
# 25,650:
Sir: I'm a registered voter living here in St. Petersburg, Florida. "Intelligent design" is not science, but religion masquerading as science. As such, it does not belong in science classrooms. I urge no compromise on this issue, and I urge that real science -- namely, evolution -- be taught in the publicly tax-supported schools of my state, Florida, and not the religion masquerading as science calling itself, "intelligent design." Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Yours truly, Allan B. Greene
# 25,649:
Personally I believe that Cookie Monster created life on Earth, and everything in between. Think about it. He's blue, he's hard to understand, what else do you need? Plus, I just have an inner voice that tells me that I'm right. Ever since I was small I've felt his presence. I want the schools to TEACH COOKIE MONSTER CREATION!! You have no proof that Cookie Monster did not in fact create the world. You narrow- minded faithless nosegrinders. All you ID people, you should realize that maybe Cookie Monster Creation and Intelligent Design are complimentary, not contradictory. By the way, beliefs are TRUE! All children should learn all of them, all the time. Actually maybe they should just learn my belief, because it's the best one, and also because I believe it. My belief in Cookie Monster is enough to make it a valuable teaching lesson. ID people, if this sounds ridiculous to you, please ponder for a while why that is so. I think you'll find it's simply a matter of time before you accept Cookie Monster as your creator.
# 25,648:
# 25,647:
# 25,646:
As a biologist whom has studied this topic in-depth AND whom used to teach evolution for 18 years, I have had to come to the point where I must admit that the scientific evidence for evolution is direly lacking. In fact, I tried for years to substantiate the premises for evolution, because I thought I was supposed to believe it. Yes, there is natural selection/survival of the fittest, but there are no missing links or true substantiating evidence for evolution. On the other hand, if one studies ALL the evidence for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, through a variety of disciplines, one will HAVE to find a wealth of information on and tangible evidence to support Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. Right before our eyes, we are seeing FSM daily, but our "teaching" has been to cling to the tremendously erroneous belief of evolution. I challenge anyone to deeply study the real evidence, as I have reluctantly for years, to find evolution to do anything but to fall flat on its face repeatedly. You whom want to believe this misguided theory, please do the serious research. It will shock you. I mean, SHOCK you. Remember, I DIDN'T want to find the evidence for FSM, but wanted to present evolution as a fact. Years of research has come to a serious dead end. Not to insult evolutionists, but you really haven't studied the topics with an unbias mind and weighed the true evidence on each side of the issue. You CAN'T have and side with evolution. I couldn't, no matter how much I wanted to. Biology, geology, archeology, chemistry, history, quantum physics, etc. None of them singularly or cumulatively or randomly combined supports the fallacy of evolution. The evidence for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, I have found, is over-whelming. It is woven through every scientific discipline. You just haven't really studied the topic or evidence to the degree that is necessary to really put the real pieces of the puzzle together. I know it puts you out in the uncomfortable zone...I was there until I let the predisposed biases go & allowed the true over-whelming evidence shine through.
# 25,645:
Education, truth finding - not ideology is the path for America's "successful" future
# 25,644:
The future of the United States depends on quality scientists able to distinguish between verified facts and faith.
# 25,643:
# 25,642:
No one requires any church to teach Darwinian evolution. How then can we require schools to teach something that isn't science as science?
# 25,641:
Let's terminate this attack on education by the Christian Right. Evolution is science, Intellegant Design is religion or pholsophy.
# 25,640:
# 25,639:
A free spirit is what our nation is supposed to be fighting for in Irak… How is this possible when we don’t even allow it to our own future, our children??
# 25,638:
# 25,637:
# 25,636:
# 25,635:
# 25,634:
Let's not let the prosperity of our state be in the hands of religion, rather in the practice of "intelligent data" management.
# 25,633:
# 25,632:
Dear Arnold, Personally I am a man of faith. Faith is essential to life. Values are the unseen foundation on which our behavior is based. Everyone has a belief system, even the atheist. Evolution is a theory, not a belief system and should not attempt to displace faith in God. When we observe the beaty of creation and man and women, are we not in awe at how magnificent it is? The sense of the sublime in us reveals we have a divine memory and heritage. If we were evolving creatures, we would only be able to look back at the path we have trod, not forward. To teach evolution as fact is in error. There isn't even a need to teach intelligent design. They are both concepts. Just teach was is, what intellect has revealled to us, teach what works, and the values that accompany this.
# 25,631:
# 25,629:
# 25,628:
Aren't Americans pleased that they have churches, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship in which to foster and disseminate their religious beliefs? Why do they think it is appropriate to pass on these beliefs in the public schools? By that reckoning, it would be appropriate for science teachers to appear in those same houses of worship to discuss science and evolution. After all, if there is no separation of church and State---- I have always thought that those among us who feel confident and secure about our beliefs do not need the sanction nor agreement of others to make it feel legitimate.
# 25,627:
Come on, American education is bad enough as it is.
# 25,626:
# 25,625:
Mr. Governor, please side with intelligent design and the common-sense people of this country! I see where one person on this post said "has society gotten so bad that the schools need to teach our children values?" Why not have 'em teach something worthwhile to them instead of all the filth about oral/anal sex and condoms! Don't you think that's a parent's place to each those things?!!! You pagans!!!!
# 25,624:
# 25,623:
# 25,622:
ID requires belief in the supernatural. How can this be science?
# 25,621:
# 25,620:
ID is myth not science. Science adheres to the scientific method to prove it's proposition and allow others to test the hypothesis. ID's proposition that human beings were designed by a higher intelligence is neither testable nor provable at this time. ID is clearly not a science issue.
# 25,619:
If we are not to leave any child behind, science must be taught in schools. Joan Russell
# 25,618:
# 25,617:
# 25,616:
This subject of Evoloution-vs-Creationism does not have to be an "all or nothing" thing. I happen to be an open-minded Christian who believes that Evolution is part of God's overall plan and design. I don't take literally every word of the Holy Bible, I believe many words within it's priceless & precious text leave room for individual interpritation. I conclude that Evolution is an parallel in many ways to the story of Creation. I have spoke to many, many, other enlightened Christians who feel the same way I do, that you don't have to choose between Science and Faith, but that the two can co-inside with oneanother. So, the reason for me signing this petition is I believe that people of all ages need to come up with their own independent thoughts about their faith (or lack of faith) on their own terms. School shouldn't be a battle ground for those with faith and those without faith, or those with whom are open minded verses those we are closed. I think instead let's leave our schools to focus on facts of science and leave the faith debate for them to focus on in their own time, place, etc. Let our schools have peace in the classroom. No, more wars over religion & science.
# 25,615:
# 25,614:
Don't stop our children from learning about science and truth.
# 25,613:
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Many people all over the country are pushing to include creationism ("Intelligent Design")in the teaching of science in our public classrooms. I am a person of faith, yet I feel very strongly that this is an illegal use of public funds and facilities, and a violation of the separation of church and State. Including creationism in school science curriculum is an imposition of one particular religious interpretation on everyone else. Please work to oppose and resist this overbearing and frightening intrusion. Instruction about many religions is part of the social studies curriculum. Instructing to convince about only one religious belief is not allowed in publicly-funded schools. Science instruction should and must be about the scientific method, verifiable and repeatable proofs, and developing the ability to think, weigh evidence, and come to logical conclusions. Otherwise, we are venturing backward in time to the Dark Ages when superstition and fear of a vengeful Creator trumped science every time.
# 25,612:
# 25,611:
Dear Governor Bush, This is a critical issue.
# 25,610:
Please, wasn't one religion inspired dark ages enough. While our kids are missing a science education, their school administrators seem to be seriously deficient in history. Religion and science shouldn't be mixed. Neither should religion and politics, but that's another petition.
# 25,609:
Please help our children compete intellectually with rigorous science courses in our public schools, and get religion OUT of the schools.
# 25,608:
Hey Arnold, 'Intelligent design' is what American automakers should be doing-it has no credence in the classroom...
# 25,607:
I am a Christian and a believer that Intelligent Design, is NOT science and should NOT be taught in a science classroom setting!! We DO NOT need science teachers teaching our children about a higher power. That is up to us as parents, to be the ones to explain these important topics to them. Is our society getting so bad where we should have to leave it up to the public school systems to be the ones to teach our children these important things?! Parents need to STOP passing the buck and START taking on the responsiblity that our Father in heaven has given to us....which is our most precious resource, that is our children.This is NOT a subject for classrooms, this IS a subject from the heart and the home!!
# 25,606:
# 25,605:
Please stop the destruction of our education system.
# 25,604:
# 25,603:
Perhaps, the "intelligent" perspective is to accept the notion that creationism and evolution are complementary, not contradictory.
# 25,602:
When religion takes over as it did in the muslim countries they fell way behind in science medicine and freedom. Don't let that happen here.
# 25,601:
The evolution theory is not a theory...it is a SCIENTIFIC theory! All SCIENTIFIC theories [NO EXCEPTIONS!!!] must pass [and have passed] the SCIENTIFIC scrutiny [SCIENTIFIC peer-review]. ID (Intelligent Duh) NEVER passed any SCIENTIFIC peer-review! In fact it does not even contain tangibles...it is based on the ABSENCE of tangibles! What the majority of people believe is utterly IRRELEVANT. SCIENTIFIC evidence [and conclusions thereof] is totally INDEPENDENT from someone's belief or the majority belief. SCIENCE is NOT based on a majority vote but based on SCRUTINIZED (peer-reviewed) tangible evidence and inferences. ID (Intelligent Duh) has none of this at all! It is not for [religiously motivated] politicians/laymen/scientists to decide [and force!] where the TANGIBLE evidence has to lead too!