Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Opinion
Evolution, creation in government schools
There has been talk in the Northwest Arkansas Times lately about evolution and creation and their place in government schools.
On one side, people say that science deals in fact and creation deals in belief.
Science has a place in government schools and "creation science" does not.
Science is based on evidence, creation is not.
One is concrete, the other faith.
On the other side, people say that creation should be taught alongside the science explanation or in place of it, in the more extreme opinions.
Science is based on evidence and creation is based on evidence.
Both origin stories being based on evidence but unprovable, science origin is based on faith and creation origin is based on faith.
There are a myriad of difficulties.
It comes down to who controls the taxpayer-funded information disseminated to our children. Because it is a government school, in effect, everyone who pays taxes has a stake in what is taught.
Do we allow all views or some?
Do we only allow the majority-view people voting on what is taught?
In truth, the majority does rule. They may allow minority opinion to prevail, but it is their choice.
And there is never a time when everyone agrees that something should be included.
So everyone's child is taught what everyone else thinks they should be taught. Everyone wants their way, and everyone is offended by everyone else's way.
That is government school, crippling desire.
Am I saying we need to find a better way to govern government schools?
No, I'm saying there shouldn't be government schools.
Jeremy Carrell
Maintenance worker II
Recycling
There has been talk in the Northwest Arkansas Times lately about evolution and creation and their place in government schools.
On one side, people say that science deals in fact and creation deals in belief.
Science has a place in government schools and "creation science" does not.
Science is based on evidence, creation is not.
One is concrete, the other faith.
On the other side, people say that creation should be taught alongside the science explanation or in place of it, in the more extreme opinions.
Science is based on evidence and creation is based on evidence.
Both origin stories being based on evidence but unprovable, science origin is based on faith and creation origin is based on faith.
There are a myriad of difficulties.
It comes down to who controls the taxpayer-funded information disseminated to our children. Because it is a government school, in effect, everyone who pays taxes has a stake in what is taught.
Do we allow all views or some?
Do we only allow the majority-view people voting on what is taught?
In truth, the majority does rule. They may allow minority opinion to prevail, but it is their choice.
And there is never a time when everyone agrees that something should be included.
So everyone's child is taught what everyone else thinks they should be taught. Everyone wants their way, and everyone is offended by everyone else's way.
That is government school, crippling desire.
Am I saying we need to find a better way to govern government schools?
No, I'm saying there shouldn't be government schools.
Jeremy Carrell
Maintenance worker II
Recycling
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Bman
posted 3/10/09 @ 9:08 PM CST
You need to watch Ben Stein's movie 'Expelled'. Most people don't understand the science behind creationism, nor the science around evolution. You, like most, reduce it down to science vs. (Continued…)
Jeremy Carrell
posted 3/10/09 @ 9:40 PM CST
I, sir, did not boil it down to anything.
I was outlining what the majority of the public, or at least publicized, debate centers around. I gave no opinion whatsoever on what I think of the worth of either notion. (Continued…)
Bob Tiberius
Jeremy Carrell
posted 3/10/09 @ 9:59 PM CST
Oh, and Mr. Traveler, you edited another of my sentences in such a way as to change the meaning.
"Do we only allow the majority-view people voting on what is taught?"
The original sentence: "Do we only allow the majority view, people voting on what is taught?"
Those are two different sentences with two different meanings. (Continued…)
Bob Tiberius
Jeremy Carrell
posted 3/10/09 @ 10:02 PM CST
I realize mistakes are made. Just please take care with it in the future.
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