Let's Think Critically!

There is a debate raging over the teaching of the theory of evolution in school in Science classes.

The hearings by the Kansas State Board of Education–.. ..–were set off by proposed changes to Kansas’s science standards intended to bring a more critical approach to the teaching of Darwinism.

If the state board adopts the new standards, as expected, Kansas will join Ohio, which took a similar step in 2002, in requiring that students be taught that there is controversy about evolution.

Kansas Begins Hearings on Diluting Teaching of Evolution

The controversy lies in the apparent contradictions between the scientific theory of evolution and the religious belief that human beings were created by God. While it may well be possible to reconcile the theory of evolution with a belief in God; unfortunately, the two belief systems cannot simply be compared. There is no scientific test for the existence of God, and appeal to faith has no place in the scientific method of investigation. For these reasons alone, and without the need to discuss the problems inherent in either concept, I conclude that creation has no more place in the Science classroom than Darwin has in Sunday school. If Creationists want their material introduced in school, it belongs in a comparative religion class. Intelligent Designers might get some play in a Philosophy class where logic can be applied to the theory. Keep it out of the Science room.

I have an idea. LET’S TEACH KIDS TO THINK CRITICALLY! After all that is the goal of the conference in Kansas– “to bring a more critical approach to the teaching of Darwinism.” I’m all for that. Let’s make school less about indoctrination, and more about learning how to think. Teach the scientific method of formulating a hypothesis, devising tests to prove or disprove it, and repeating the tests until a theory emerges. Explain that theories are often imperfect and require more tests to strengthen, alter or further define them as appropriate. Encourage students to think critically, even about long standing theories like that of evolution, and seek to test it in new ways. Warn students of the danger of predetermining their conclusions and getting faulty results by attempting to shoe-horn data to suit one’s hypothesis or an entrenched theory. Open students minds to the possibility that there may be some new evidence lurking around ready to be discovered, that could change everything.

The fact that this debate is happening is an indication to me that people haven’t been taught how to think right, and are too easily swayed by emotional arguments. It is foolish to think a scientific theory and a faith-based belief can be fairly compared in the same arena. It’s the old “apples and oysters” dilemma.

I fear that the public discourse on this subject of late is the work of power seekers using emotional arguments to motivate indoctrinated followers, to create tensions and divisions among a proletariat that has been conditioned to think a certain way. Sadly, it’s not critically.