Sign the Petition!

As many of you may be aware, the Florida Science Standards are up for final review this month.  Many school districts have been passing resolutions in opposition to the proposed standards, because the standards are forthright about the role evolution and Big Bang cosmology play in biology and astronomy, respectively.  The Florida Citizens for Science have created an online petition in support of the standards.  You can view it here.  One good thing about the petition is that you can add your comments.  Note that the donations are requested only after your signature has been added - close the page if you do not wish to donate.  The following are my comments:

Many Florida school boards are crafting resolutions in oppostion to the proposed standards.  The opposition takes form in three major arguments.  The first is that evolution is no longer being taught as theory, but rather as “the fundamental concept underlying all of biology and is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence.”  However, according to Benchmark SC.6.N.3.1, that is the definition of a scientific theory.  In fact, these school boards are promulgating the very misconception that benchmark is trying to avoid when it continues on to explain that “the use of the term theory in science is very different than how it is used in everyday life.”

The second argument is that if we are to teach evolution and Big Bang theory, we should teach other theories as well.  To which I respond, “Go ahead.”  But we must use only teach theories that meet the definition given in the standards - that is, scientific theories.  When pressed, these school boards either can’t provide alternate scientific theories, or else provide ”theories” that do not meet the criteria set forth in the standards, but rather are theories only in the sense used in everyday life.  How do you teach a non-existent theory?  These alternate “theories” would be quickly exposed under Benchmarks SC.912.N.2.1-3 - imagine the hue and cry if they were included under those benchmarks!  It should also be pointed out that several benchmarks require students to understand the role alternative explanations play in developing science (e.g., SC.912.N.1.3).

The final argument is that we should “teach both the strengths and weaknesses” of the challenged theories, with thte implication that only the strengths are taught.  But the standards already do that.  The weaknesses of the challenged theories are no different than the weaknesses of the other theories in the standards that haven’t been challenged.  All one has to do is read through the Nature of Science standards to find these weaknesses.  Even within the Life Science standards, specific examples are given (e.g., SC.912.L.15.12).

It is apparent that these school boards are either not familiar with the standards they are purporting to improve, or that they are ignoring them in pursuit of an ideological goal.  This shows a disturbing contempt for the educational standards of Florida.  I urge the BoE to treat these resolutions with the same respect shown by the school boards - none at all.

I am also posting this as a comment at Panda’s Thumb.

All Work and No Play Make Mac a Dull Boy

Sorry about falling off the face of the earth.  Shortly after my last posting, work dropped a one ton case of overtime on my head.  At one point, I worked 13 straight days, and am just now recovering.  Or not, as my body decided that all that stress + the bad weather = one sick person.  Since I am home alone today, I thought I’d take the opportunity to work on the blog.

Religious Freedom Day - Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

On January 16th, 1786, Virginia finally passed Jefferson’s Statute of Religious Freedom, nearly seven years after he first penned it.  It formed the basis of the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment, as well as serving as the model for many states’ constitutions.  I invite you all to read and reflect on the impact a single law can have.

Religious Freedom Day - Memorial and Remonstrance

Jefferson’s Statute did not immediately get passed.  It languished until the second foundational document, Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance, was produced.  Published on June 20, 1785, it contained the objections to a bill proposed by Patrick Henry the previous legislative session that would provide government support for Christian clergy.  It provided the impetus to pass Jefferson’s Statute of Religious Freedom.

 

Religious Freedom Day - Notes on the State of Virginia

Via Ed Brayton, I am reminded that today, January 16th is Religious Freedom Day.  It is the anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786.  The Statute is the model upon which the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment of the US Constitution is constructed, as well as many of the state constitutions.  By 1833, all states had officially eliminated establishment of religion.  Like many other laws, there are a series of documents leading up to the enactment, explaining the rationale behind the statute.  I am dedicating a short series of posts to the three foundational documents, including the Statute itself, that formed the basis of the Religion Clauses of the Constitution.

First in line is Query 17 of Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia.  The front matter of the Notes states:

Friday Fisking - The Fafarman Files #1

This is the first in a series of posts analyzing Larry Fafarman’s 20 criticisms of Judge Jones’ decision in Kitzmiller v. Dover.  It was originally posted at Larry’s blog on June 2, 2006.  I have made some edits.

 (1) For perhaps only the second time in American history (the Selman v. Cobb County evolution-disclaimer textbook sticker case was possibly the first), a judge ruled that something — irreducible complexity in this case — that makes no mention of anything related to religion and that contains no religious symbols constitutes a government endorsement of religion. Whether or not irreducible complexity is bogus science is irrelevant, because there is no constitutional separation of bogus science and state.

Friday Fisking

A weekly feature, often done on Fridays, has long been a staple of blogs.  Who am I to deny the tradition?  Each week, I will provide a detailed analysis of someone missing the point.

What’s The Point?

 The point of this blog is to document the illogic of modern argumentative discourse.  Of particular focus are the arguments of pseudoscience and the nuances of First Amendment rights.

There were a number of circumstances surrounding the creation - resurrection, really - of this blog.  First, I’ve found myself holding back from commenting at other people’s blogs, either because my observation was tangential to the conversation or too long to post as a comment.  Second, I recently received encouragement to start my own blog.  Third, Lou FCD mentioned at After the Bar Closes (the forum for Panda’s Thumb)that he had a blog that he had created but never really used, and was offering it up because he didn’t want the name to go to waste.  Finally, I need to practice writing for purposes of therapy, so mainting this blog is my New Year’s Resolution.