Evolution vs. creationism: Does this cartoon belong in Grady High School biology class?

[doxydad]

Last edited Sun Jul 6, 2014, 07:29 AM - Edit history (1)

The latest chapter in the debate over how to teach the origins of human life is unfolding closer to home than many in the Grady community would have ever expected.

A PowerPoint shown to a freshman biology class featured a cartoon depicting dueling castles, one labeled “Creation (Christ)” and the other labeled “Evolution (Satan).” Balloons attached to the evolution castle were labeled euthanasia, homosexuality, pornography, divorce, racism and abortion.

The PowerPoint was assigned for the students to view on the website Blackboard as a part of Anquinette Jones’ freshman biology class. Jones declined comment, saying that the PowerPoint originated with APS.

The PowerPoint, which has more than 50 slides largely consisting of material about evolution, was downloaded from SharePoint, an APS file-sharing database for teachers. It was uploaded by Mary E. King, a project manager at APS who has also uploaded more than 2,000 other documents. Phone calls and emails to King have not been returned. Tommy Molden, science coordinator for APS, also did not respond to requests for comment.

“Evolution is part of high school biology curriculum,” the PowerPoint reads. “You are entitled to challenge everything and encouraged to believe whatever you would like.”

Several students and parents were offended by the implications of the cartoon, including freshman Seraphina Cooley, who is in Jones’ class.



EDIT: adding link to article:
http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2014/jul/03/evolution-vs-creationism-why-still-issue-grady-or-/
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[longship]

1. What Sam Hell is APS?

Your post does not say and you've provided no link.

And yes! This absolutely against the First Amendment.

[Buns_of_Fire]

4. Atlanta Public Schools? Grady High would fit in that area. Just a guess. nt

[gratuitous]

2. "You are entitled to challenge everything"

Does that include challenging this asinine cartoon for its preposterous assumptions, or is that beyond the pale because it might challenge the sincerely held beliefs of the ignorant?

[Bortman33]

3. Seems that Mary, like all CONservatives,

believes "That a mind is a wonderful thing to waste!"

[shenmue]

5. Since when is a public school

obligated to teach religious doctrine?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. In the right conext, it could be OK

I don't think it's right for a biology class (but I could be persuaded). If the cartoon is part of a thoughtful discussion as to how the two sides see each other (more pertinent to a Civics class, IMHO), it could be all right.

[cali]

7. Seriously? You actually think that those who support scientific theory

want to destroy Christianity??? That's the gist of the cartoon.

How the two sides view each other my ass. That is false equivalency and it sucks.

[RainDog]

8. King and Jones should be fired for incompetence

to claim that evolution is satan is to claim you are incompetent to teach a science class - any science class.

[retread]

9. What kind of science states, "You are...encouraged to believe whatever you would like..."???

[d_r]

10. I think the cartoon

Is saying that while creationist take little harmless potshots at cultural issue balloons evolution makes w direct hit blowing the foundation right from under creationism.

[alphafemale]

14. See my other comment on this below.

I think the labeling of the castles as Christian and Satan was added.

By someone with no concept of what was actually happening.

Sure. Shoot at those balloon targets way above my head all you want.

You are about to go swimming.

[rock]

11. Sure why not?

The guy at the highest point (creationist) is firing in the wrong direction. The pirate to the right is blowing the foundation out from under the creationists. What are we trying to say?

[alphafemale]

12. That was my immediate thought as well.

The Creationists are shooting at balloons. This cartoon is all over the place. I think it had to have been altered.

I bet the original tags were science and religion and the balloons had other names as well.

Creationists aren't very good at thinking things through.

[rock]

13. Correct, "Creationists aren't very good at thinking ..."

You can stop right there!