Re: [asa] Oregon teacher fired after making Bible references

Critical thinking still means what it has always meant. It means that
we teach our children the best about science and try to avoid mixing
science with religion, even though some people may fail to appreciate
the difference.
Teaching religious viewpoints just do not belong in a science
curriculum, certainly not hidden under the apology of teaching
critical thinking.
I am all for teaching critical thinking, including evaluation of the
various religious thoughts, of course for real critical thought, this
would include atheism as well as the more esoteric religions.

I recently read a hilarious story about someone going to class and
tell the children, before I tell you more, let's first pray. The
children were quick to follow. Then he said: Please kneel and pray to
Allah". Suddenly children opposed... Fascinating experiment.

On 3/20/07, David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, the school board certainly had a right to fire him if he was deviating
> from the curriculum, which he probably was, and undoubtely the actual stuff
> he was teaching was dumb. OTOH, why is teaching religious viewpoints NOT
> part of developing "critical thinking" skills? Does "critical thinking" now
> mean "thinking exactly like us and not like those crazy religious people?"
>
>
> On 3/20/07, PvM <pvm.pandas@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4645374.html
> >
> > Seems that 'critical thinking' has now become a code word for 'teach
> > religion'. It was only a matter of time for parents to come to the
> > realization that 'critical thinking' as proposed by creationists is
> > all but...
> >
> >
> >
> > SISTERS, Ore. — During his eight days as a part-time high school
> > biology teacher, Kris Helphinstine included Biblical references in
> > material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation
> > that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned
> > Parenthood.
> >
> > That was enough for the Sisters School Board, which fired the teacher
> > Monday night for deviating from the curriculum on the theory of
> > evolution.
> >
> > ...
> >
> > Helphinstine, 27, said in a phone interview with The Bulletin
> > newspaper of Bend that he included the supplemental material to teach
> > students about bias in sources, and his only agenda was to teach
> > critical thinking.
> >
> > "Critical thinking is vital to scientific inquiry," said Helphinstine,
> > who has a master's degree in science from Oregon State. "My whole
> > purpose was to give accurate information and to get them thinking."
> >
> > ....
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
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> >
>
>

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Received on Wed Mar 21 11:46:18 2007