10.30.05
Yeah, right. Tell me another one.
A leading critic of teaching evolution in a Pennsylvania school district denied on Thursday he wanted students to learn about biblical accounts of the origins of life.
William Buckingham, who headed the curriculum committee of Dover Area School Board, told federal court he had not meant to cite creationism as an alternative to evolution when interviewed by local TV in 2004.
How stupid does he think his opposition is? The article lists some of Buckingham’s past statements and actions, which clearly document that he indeed does want to introduce biblical teachings into public schools.
I consider it dishonest and contemptuous for the intelligent design crowd to present itself otherwise. Of course the push for intelligent design is driven by Christian fundamentalists. Of course the push is to get the Bible taught in public schools. How many specific theories of “intelligent design” are there? How do you explain or describe the great intelligent designer after declaring that it must exist? Well, there is Christianity and there is Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and probably a few others (to put it mildly.) Which one(s) get taught in public schools?
I haven’t followed the Intelligent Design debate very much, because ultimately it sidesteps a larger issue. I hope to see government in general (and the Federal government in particular) get completely out of the education business — to stop funding it, to stop mandating or forbidding curriculum, everything. Just get out. Let parents and families take care of their own education. Once parents and families are taking care of thier own education, they get to make all the decisions, and can teach their children what they want, without any interference the of any school board. They can choose a school based on the curriculum of thier choice, among many other factors.
That’s the debate I wish would be had.
Besides, I can’t take any of the Intelligent Design hogwash seriously until its proponents satisfactorally answer one simple question: Who designed the intelligent designer?
Steve Hilton said,
November 10, 2005 at 12:35 pm
Hey Steve Hilton I am Steve Hilton as well. Good idea on school system. I keep my children (3) in the public system here as it is pretty good in Canada. What the heck is a Libertarian?