When Chemists Attack

We’re going to have an election soon to choose the new education superintendent. This is potentially important for the future of education here in the Palmetto State, and as all three readers of this blog know – science education is one of my big issues.

The main thing I look at to see whether someone supports quality education is the evolution issue. It’s not because I’m a biologist (my wife teaches biology, while I teach chemistry). It’s because evolution is such an established part of one core science that it allows you to see what a person things of science in general. A person that rejects evolution without looking at the science will reject any other areas that the don’t like – and that leaves science education stranded on some extremely thin ice.

Here’s what I’d really like our two education superintendent candidates to say when asked about whether evolution should be taught in schools:

“Well, I’ve looked at the issue, and I think the theories taught in the high schools should be the theories that help our scientists gain new knowledge in their fields. Biologists use evolutionary theory to give us new insight on how living things work. It’s a fundamental and well-supported idea in biology, much like the concept of the atom is a fundamental and well-supported idea in chemistry. We’d be doing out children a disservice to avoid evolutionary theory in the classroom.”

Here’s what they actually say:

Karen Floyd, Republican, who won a close primary election

There are a growing number of prominent scientists who are “poking around” in the foundations of evolutionary theory. Irreducible complexity is just one issue that causes heartburn for the evolutionists.

As science evolves, so do the opinions of the scientists. More and more scientists are publicly coming out in favor of an Intelligent Design Theory because that is what the evidence is telling them is true.

Long gone are the days when God was excluded from scientific circles. If we ignore that reality, we will only limit our children’s scientific knowledge.

Clearly, the theory of the politically-correct minority has been allowed to dominate our classrooms to the point where not only is evolution being taught as a scientific truth, but the public address system cannot be used to say a prayer for the safety of athletes before a football game – this is wrong.

Source: SC PIE – State Superintendent of Education candidate supports Intelligent Design

Jim Rex, Democrat

South Carolina is a very spiritually active, involved state. … I believe there are other venues for supporting and nourishing religious beliefs outside and inside our schools. There are more appropriate places to deal with that (subject of alternative theories) than in the biology classroom

Source: The State: Veteran educator kicks off campaign

Which one are you more comfortable with setting the science agenda for your kids?

(Hat Tip: SC-SCIED)