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"ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- The state's school superintendent has proposed striking the word evolution from Georgia's science curriculum and replacing it with the phrase 'biological changes over time.'"
"[Superintendent Kathy Cox] repeatedly referred to evolution as a 'buzzword' Thursday and said the ban was proposed, in part, to alleviate pressure on teachers in socially conservative areas where parents object to its teaching.
"If teachers across this state, parents across this state say, 'This is not what we want,' then we'll change it," said Cox, a Republican elected in 2002."
Buzzword, huh? Only been in use since the late 1800s, must surely be the world's most long-lasting buzzword I should think... Jesus wept! Anyway, full piece here: http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/01/30/striking.evolution.ap/index.html
Fortunately, this blatant attempt at regression back down into religion-imposed superstition and barbary has met with immediate resistance; http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/01/30/georgia.evolution/index.html, where former US President Jimmy Carter said, "As a Christian, a trained engineer and scientist, and a professor at Emory University, I am embarrassed by Superintendent Kathy Cox's attempt to censor and distort the education of Georgia's students,"
One nation under god, indeed... *scary*
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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In England in the time of Henry VIII The Bible was a banned book because, in English for the first time, it could be read by Enlgish people, the few who could read. It showed things the state did not want the people to see.
Totalitarian regimes have ever told us how to think. Monarchist, Communist, National Sociaist, Fascist, religious (yes, all "major" religions).
Galileo was a heretic, and still the world turns and spins around the sun, not the other way around.
Odd, isn't it?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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In a press release this morning, Georgia School Superintendent Kathy Cox has announced that henceforth the word "sex" will no longer appear in any teaching materials in Georgia schools.
Cox says: "From now on the word "gender" will replace the word "sex" in identifying people as either male or female. In instances where the word "sex" is used to describe actual dirty, un-Godly fornication, the phrase "cooperative activities designed to insure the continuation of the human species" shall be used instead of that other ugly and controversial word."
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Regiemes continually tell us how to think.....
But in reality.... inteligent people know how to think.... Without direction....
The State of Georgia may restrict certain words in class.... but that changes none of the reality that these words exist.
It is nothing more than political posturing in an election year....
How sad to have to make school children the pawns of politicians....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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What you mention is one of many proposals being thrown around to "reform" Georgia schools (presently ranked 50th in the nation). Also on the list is to radically change the history program, eliminating any discussion about the Civil War (known down here as thw war of northern aggression). Seems most people don't like being reminded of the fact that the south lost that war.
In the county where I live, they put stickers in the science books last year that stated that evolution was only one of many theories concerning the origin of man.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Adds a new dimension to the term "Workers' co-operative" somehow
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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This isn't a laughing matter, nor is it a minor event that should be ignored!
It's rather a dangerous trend by politically powerful people who are gathering their resources to radically change the United States. It's happening in government and it's happening in educational systems and it's happening in organized religions.
These people intend more change and retrenchment, they intend their ways of thinking and believing to be legislated for all. It could happen, it's not far off on the horizon.
It's part of the reason why I left the USA, and it's getting worse.
All they need is for sensible middle-of-the-road people to stay inactive in the political process...and more than half of US voters don't give a damn enough to go out and vote.
What a waste, what a shame.
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Apparently while we are constitutionally guaranteed freedom OF religion we are NOT guaranteed freedom FROM religion.
The vote is a sacred right and to ignore its power is to give in to the powers that seek to subjugate the people.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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This should be a wake up call to every American of voting age. If you are not yet registered ... PLEASE do.
Then make your voice heard in November.
Apathy is the real enemy, if you care at all about these and many other issues, vote.
Just my two cents,
Kevin
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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Okay, as a former teacher, this concept not only offends me, it should be looked upon as reasons for dismissing this person who claims to be helping train our children in the concepts and realities of our scientific, rational, moral and ethical culture.
First, to change the word evolution into one of its definitions is not only ludicrous it is an attempt to rewrite history. And here I thought that the "Scopes Monkey Trial" had already promoted that evolution was a scientifically valid theory. That's right theory, since none of us will live long enough to prove it in our own lifetime. I personnally believe it, but it's still only a theory, much like a lot of other theorys. I wonder if Ms. Cox is somehow religiously motivated, attempting to undermine scientific thought in favor of creationism.
Second, if the parents want to teach their own religious explanation of human life, conception and sexuality over established facts concerning human development, medical facts and just plain common sense knowledge of hygine, that is fine. If they don't want it taught in schools, that's fine, too. But to deny such basic information on the basis of their politics or religious bias to other students that might not have access to such information is also rediculous. There is a point at which what you decide is perfectly fine for you and your children shouldn't impinge on the rights of others to that information as well.
Third, and this is perhaps the most important thing, (in my humble opinion) the teachers in such areas should be smart enough to realize that if the area they are in is highly conservative that such subjects might require parental approval and review. Any teacher will tell you that you don't teach, explain or make anything available to the children that you don't also make equally available to the parents. The parents are basically empowering you, as a teacher, to the safety and education of their children. Not a thing to take lightly, I can tell you. I've had to have many parent-teacher conferences, home visits, and PTA-style meetings. That trust is not an easy thing to earn and maintain, but is essential.
Teachers can't do it alone. To hobble the teachers as a matter of pencil whipping the language of education and the concepts available to teach is not only foolhardy, it is morally criminal and bankrupt of open thinking. Might as well strap students to the desk, allow the teachers to flog them openly for varying from rote learning. What happened to Education meaning to lead forward? Such "subtle" changes by the right-wingers in the US are going to lead to a less than approriate education, and more of a patterned existance, telling our kids that they don't have to reach beyond what had been done, learned, created or thought of before. That if they best they can do is just what everyone else will settle for, that's okay.
We're being bred for mediocrity, my friends. That's the sign of a culture in decline. We settle in and don't advance, don't grow. Sure, it's a little thing, just saying things will be easier if we ignore things that might interfere with our preconceived "truths" by possibly being factual. But that little thing eventually leads to being easily controlled. And no offense to our British friends, we didn't revolt against the Crown to form our own nation just to become easily controlled. We have always had two thoughts highest upon our values of personal freedom: Freedom of Choice and the Freedom to live that choice, without interference. Live and let live.
Okay, so maybe I'm ranting. Maybe the cold medication is really making me a little less likely to hold back my sharp tongue. Maybe my current migraine is so throbbing that it get's my hot Irish, English and French blood going. But I just had to get my points out there. If we let elected officials and their special interest group supporters turn education for all into "education the way we want you to learn it because you aren't smart enough to handle it, dear" then we lose a little more of that personal freedom, that personal choice to know things that might actually be against our own personal philosophies. The truth of the matter is that those who don't have tests of faith, don't appreciate or even develop faith.
Perhaps I should just shut up and let these foul persons have their own way and watch as it backfires on their shortsighted, narrow view of reality. Perhaps I should just let them do things improperly so that others who feel as I do about this step forward and shout "Stop the insanity, our kid's lives are at stake here!" Perhaps.....
Then again, if I, we, don't speak out against such silly and wasteful idiocy, then we are more or less rubber stamping it. There are more important issues that our teachers and education administrators need to deal with than making things less difficult for those teaching in the backwaters. There are things that need out attention and some stupid politico making noise about something like this seems like a waste of time, money, thought, energy, and possibly in her case, the few working brain cells she still has.
Perhaps that's somewhat an inflamatory thing to say (to which I admit, is based on my own state of anger), but if that's the best Ms. Cox can do, change a few words so that it's more politically correct for inhabitants of a fundamentalist religious region, then perhaps she should re-evaluate her own performance in her job. Or should I say that she should consider the positive and negative consenquentialities of her decisions, actions and policies at her tax-funded, state mandated, voter regulated and approved temporary postion of employment for monetary compensation in her chosen career path.
Then again, that's just my opinion. I've taught classes before. What do I know, eh?
It's not the wolf you see you should fear, but all the ones he howls with. Don't be afraid of the song, but don't piss off the choir.
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The sad thing is, this IS an attempt to get creationism (now called creation science) into the government schools of Georgia. And the Governor seems to be supporting the move. Last year in my county, 36 parents complained about evolution (the school system has about 100,000 students) and the school board caved.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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(R) party tightens vice grip on way kids should think: 
Okay, now I'm ticked! 
