Cyprus-Forum.com

[Bananiot]

So, you agree with those that say that evolution should not be taught, but for a different reason, apparently. What about evolution which is part of the GCE curriculum? Thousands of GC and TC pupils take these exams. Who should teach them evolution, in your opinion?

[GreekIslandGirl]

If they are taught the basics, the rest will speak for itself.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Otherwise, one can be equally accused of indoctrination.

[Bananiot]

Indoctrination? Are you really saying this, an evolutionary biologist? You do realise that evolution has stood the test of time and like any other scientific theory which has been rigorously tested it should take the place it deserves. After all, biology makes no sense outside evolution (Theodosius Dobzhansky). Our kids are indoctrinated for sure, since birth, by the school and church. It is really strange that you of all people should reject the teaching of evolution in our schools.

[GreekIslandGirl]

What are you afraid of?

Given the facts, starting from the real basics, the reality will speak for itself to each bright child. Once you understand DNA/genetic structure and you notice how only a few regulatory genes stand between us and chimpanzees, our fallibility shines.

Education is about instruction not force-feeding. As I said, scientists would stand to be accused of indoctrination if they didn't give the next generation the chance to develop evidence based conclusions for themselves.

We can re-learn from each generation, if we don't force-feed them our old ways of looking at things.

- For me, evolution fits all the known facts. For now.

[Bananiot]

So, we should teach the basics, and let them invent the wheel from the beginning, for the fear of being accused (by whom?) of indoctrinating our pupils. This is basically your contribution in this thread. I take it you are all for Noah's ark example of how to preserve biodiversity too. Then again, the thousands of pupils that do not choose biology as their major, I suppose they have to make do with Adam and Eve, which has nothing to do with indoctrination, I suppose. And if someone cannot understand the second law of thermodynamics, or gravity or any other physical law, we should hand him/her gift-wrapped to the creationists to mess up their short lives for good.

[bill cobbett]

There was a very famous case in the States a few years back, in Dover, in that most Christian and religious of nations, the USA, where the supporters of the Intelligent Design rubbish were trying to get an equal footing for their Creationist theories alongside that most powerful and wonderful of scientific descriptions Evolutionary Theory in Biology lessons.

The local school board and most parents resisted and the case went to the Supreme Court, can't remember whether that was the State Supreme Court or the US Supreme Court, but the Creationists failed as their demands to include Intelligent Design on the school curriculum was thrown out.

[Bananiot]

Here, a biologist tells us that teaching evolution is tantamount to indoctrination. What's the difference Bill?

[bill cobbett]

Here, a biologist tells us that teaching evolution is tantamount to indoctrination. What's the difference Bill?

All three of us are scientists koumbare, sciences based on evidence from such things as repeatable experiments and observations and building on these through logical reasoning on the results to reach some conclusions, so that we might get a better description of the world around us. A better description cos Science, unlike doctrine, is and always will be a work in progress and there will always be refinements to theories to get better descriptions...

If we follow this then scientific method can't therefore be a doctrine cos science is inherently open to change with the results of new experiments and observations, with old theories thrown out and new theories which offer better descriptions than current ones adopted, so it really is a nonsense to claim it as a doctrine.

Scientific theories change, doctrines don't.

[Lordo]

I don't believe she is a biologist, unless she got her degree from the local church.