original reply wad only sent to Jon sorry
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Perrett [mailto:don.perrett@verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 4:10 PM
To: Jonathan Clarke
Subject: RE: Christian education (was ASA Perspective)
I do agree that teachers should teach the truth. The question is what do we
understand to be the truth. Over time certain so called facts of the time
were taught but as more information and insight is gained we sometimes find
that certain "facts" have changed and textbooks are even changed. What we
see in history using today's knowledge may not be what it is tomorrow. Being
that the case, how can we say until there is irrefutable evidence concerning
the evolution/creation of the universe, how can we be see narrow minded as
to not allow for other theories and ideas to be taught? As for community
responsibility, you again are right. Every community (comprised of parents,
including teachers(some of which have children)) has an obligation to make
an informed and composed decision on what material should be taught. It is
this system which allows for the continued growth of individuality and
community. This is why every individual and community is different. God help
us if we were all the same. As to the parents, while "some" parents are
narrow minded, it is a more common occurrence that the parent(s) is
under-educated. Certainly a person with more education is better equipped to
decide on such matters, but regardless of what is taught in school,
individual ideas (even morbid or perverse) can still be taught by parents.
The question is whether or not the teaching of other theories with regard to
the formation of the universe is harmful. Extreme ideas, such as Nazism and
other hate oriented ideas, are obviously wrong. They create disorder and
violence and a breaking down of the very community of which we are a part.
How, though, does teaching young earth(creation), old earth(creation) or
evolution destroy our personal evolution? I would say that teaching science
in any form is essential, but most under-eduacted people do not have the
patience to continually accept the changes that are constantly thrown at
them by the scientific community. Religion, right or wrong, offers them a
base from which to stand. When individual scientists come out and make some
observation or conclusion based on less than all the facts and later find
some new piece of evidence which causes a change in view, this is what keeps
people from coming over to the ideas currently set forth by the science
community.
Just my view though.
Don P
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Clarke [mailto:jdac@alphalink.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 3:09 PM
To: Don Perrett
Cc: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
Subject: Christian education (was ASA Perspective)
Hi Don
"as a parent one has the right and responsibility for the education of their
own
children" is the catch phrase (one of them at least) of the parent
controlled
school movement. It is a truism, although it ignores some issues. What if
the
parent wants their child taught that one racial group is superior to
another?
What if the parent wants to teach the child that all nations other than
their
own are to be treated as the enemy? What if the parent wants the child
taught
that the earth is the centre of the universe. The upbringing of children is
also a community responsibility, and the community has an obligation to make
sure that parents to do abuse their responsibility. The there is the
responsibilities of teachers to teach the truth. Even in a parent
controlled
school, teachers would (I hope) have a commitment to teach what is true, not
just what the parents want. But I have many friends who have taught in
such
schools and know the struggles they have had with narrow minded parents.
Jon
Don Perrett wrote:
> In response, I would firmly state that as a parent one has the right and
> responsibility for the education of their own children. Should someone
with
> no vested interest be the one to decide what is right to be taught to my
> child? I cannot understand why anyone would object to teaching one
> theory(creationism in any form) over another(evolution). The debate over
> religion in public schools seems to primarily rest on the issue of
> segregation of church-state. If the state does not allow the ideas and
> teachings of any religion, be it Christianity, does this not suppress
> freedom of religion, and establish a state philosophy(religion) of
atheism?
> An objection to allowing the teaching of a specific religion in public
> schools is understandable, but to now allow any is unconstitutional at the
> very least. Should the time come when religious institutions are serious
> about reintroducing religion into public schools, they should be looking
at
> a united effort by all religions to allow(not require) religious
teachings.
> If schools were to allow such classes as electives (not prerequisites) how
> would this be a government establishment of a religion? In today's lower
> education system reports continue to show that we are behind in most
> subjects in comparison to the rest of the industrialized world. Although
not
> the only cause, but how do we expect young children to learn basic skills
if
> we are too focused on teaching pre-k children about extinct species of
> creatures? My own children learned what a t-rex was before even gaining
> knowledge of giraffes. How can they begin to function in a world full of
> unknowns about today when we spend an excessive amount of time on the
past?
> Let evolution and creation be taught as electives, and allow the freedom
of
> choice rest with the children and parents.
>
> Don P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
> Behalf Of Jonathan Clarke
> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 2:08 PM
> Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> Subject: Re: ASA Perspective
>
> Hi Jan
>
> Jan de Koning wrote:
>
> > SNIP
> >
> >
> >
> > I have been in a study committee of our churches, and found that the
lack
> > of, or the type of elementary education has a lot to do with it. If you
> > are going to elementary school in areas were "creationist"
fundamentalists
> > are in the majority teaching in elementary schools is different from
> > teaching somewhere else. That is why we as Calvinists always have
> insisted
> > on basic Christian schools from grade one to university.
> >
> > I have to leave now. Later more.
>
> The problem has been here in Oz that the parent controlled schools
> established by
> the Reformed churches and subsequently copied by others have proved to be
> nurseries for YEC, as ever increasing numbers of parents demand first that
> their
> children be taught "creation" in science, as well as "evolution" and in
some
> they
> are taught only creation science.
>
> Jon
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