It's no fun being a biology teacher in Kansas

[Starbucks Anarchist]

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Hours after students merrily departed for the long winter break, lights still blazed in Ken Bingman's biology lab at Blue Valley West High School here.

The bright TV lights belonged to the crew from "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee," a children's news magazine show on the Nickelodeon cable channel. Nick News was just the latest in a long line of those seeking the veteran biology teacher's take on the country's most spectacular recurring science squabble: the Kansas State Board of Education's on-again-off-again relationship with Charles Darwin and his theory of biological evolution.

"They're violating the integrity of science," he said of the current board. "In doing that, they're confusing the students not only about what is science, but confusing them about what is religion. So, it's a lose-lose."

Assigned to discuss five solid pieces of evidence for evolution, one 14-year-old student wrote: "Although there is more than one viewpoint on the issue of how we all got here, Mr. Bingman is forcing believing his views by teaching us one-sided education. This is much as how the liberal media is forcing the public into disowning the war and Pres. Bush's policies. Despite my viewpoints I am forced to write about the theory of evolution."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-051229teacher-story,1,7983099.story?page=2&cset=true&ctrack=1&coll=chi-news-hed

[Jamastiene]

1. Yep, that kid has been listening to it's parents talk.

It already has set opinions because you can tell that is all the kid ever hears at home.

[NMMNG]

2. I see

So because the Church teaches only Creationism it is "forcing its views on people by teaching them one-sided education"? I get it now. I am going to demand that the Church teach evolution along with Creationism so that it will be "fair and balanced".

[FatDave]

3. Poor kid

It was at about that age that I learned to think for myself. Of course my thinking took me in the absolute opposite direction. I only hope he arrived at his conclusions on his own instead of just spouting the nonsense he's been fed. But pulling out "liberal media" and praising Bush like that doesn't really help his case.

[ComerPerro]

4. The kid is a hypocrite and a liar

For one thing, no one ever presents evolution as a catch-all, "this is how it is" theory.

Second, evolution is taught in schools as biology. For about fifteen minutes, on one day. That's all. If you listen to the creationists, though, you would think that it was something forced upon students and that was at the forefront of the teachings.

Third, this kid probably has no interest in hearing all views. Its just a lie. When creationists or IDers (they're the same thing) say they want to hear "all views", its just bullshit they say so they can appeal to moderates by sounding tolerant and open-minded. The truth is, there would never be enough time in any class or any context to fully teach every creation story that exists. And in a public school, no religious creation myth should receive priority over any other.

Fourth, this kid will make a great soldier in 4 years, fighting in a yet to be named Bush war without adequate armor and protection, and without any clear plan or strategy. Oh, wait, no he won't. Conservatives just pimp war. They don't actually fight in them...

[fasttense]

5. And this is why the nation is falling behind in math and science.

I loved math and science as a kid because it was logical and held to facts. But now everywhere a kid goes they see the underlying facts and logic behind science and math constantly under attack. As if the facts were nothing more than wishy washy ideas forced on the unsuspecting public. As if scientific evidence is a fleeting opinion of satanic forces. Facts are ignored and twisted to suit big business's latest quests for profit - such as the "there is no global warming" mantra. Or the truth is spun to conform to religious dogma - such as the creationists and ID worshipers. No wonder kids avoid the hard sciences. Science can't be trusted to give the facts, scientists have a hidden agenda that will suck you into the devil's logic.

Well when US citizens become the most ignorant people in the world and must rely on India and China for innovations and technical advancements then perhaps the US may start supporting and accepting facts and logic again. But don't hold your breath.

[atommom]

13. My thoughts exactly. These people don't WANT an educated populace,

capable of critical thinking, because they know that their support would evaporate if the public examined Republican policies critically. As a person who has always loved science, this really grieves me.

[Aviation Pro]

6. Maybe the kid's English teacher has problems too.

Mr. Bingman is forcing believing his views by teaching us one-sided education.

Now let's try a correction: "Mr Bingman is forcing us to believe his views by teaching us one-sided education."

[Toots]

16. Oh he is forced to do English against his viewpoints as well

That damn school is just forcing him toi do stuff he just don't want to do and it pisses him off. He should just drop out and call himself as smart as his fearless leader Bush*.

[rzemanfl]

7. The solution to this is to stop teaching "Evolution"- just have

courses in Comparative Anatomy and Paleontology and let the kids figure it out for themselves. A few will go for space alien blueprints or "intelligent design" but most of them won't.

[Divernan]

8. It's no fun having a brain in Kansas - surrounded by mindless dolts.

NT

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Ain't that the truth

Fellow Kansan here :hi:

[mwb970]

9. Who cares what a 14-year-old says anyway?

Are the kids in charge now? This kid doesn't even know what he's saying, rather like the president.

[BiggJawn]

10. Kid is a good candidate to be home-schooled.

That would fix everything. Mom (he DOES have a gawdly stay-at-home Mom, right?)could teach him flat-earth geology and they could spend a portion of "classtime" in adoration of Jeebus Dumbya Shrub's portrait...

Oh...Mom should spend EXTRA time on sentence structure, m'kay?

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. Don't laugh. That happens around here alot.

there are kids who have been home schooled and have done really well. And there are kids who have been taught absolutely nothing at all. There really is no real regulation on what is taught here.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Very common in the Blue Valley district

Maybe he has already been homeschooled.

[Avalux]

11. I don't believe that 14 year-old wrote that.

Mommy and/or Daddy did. I mean really - what kid is an expert at spouting RW talking points like that?

[Kingshakabobo]

12. He should get an "F" for going outside the scope of his class

and the question by mentioning politics and Boosh.

We had a 1000 post DUer making his same argument here the other day. The DUer was saying liberals persecute religious people by teaching evolution.:crazy:

[Greyhound]

17. OMG who? Link? n/t

[Kingshakabobo]

18. This thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5676733#5694235

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. That poster!!

I will PM you.

Suffice it for now to say :crazy:

[Greyhound]

24. Thank you for the confirmation. I just don't understand how so

many Canadians would so clearly be happier as amerikans. How about an exchange program? The Canadian re:puke:s exchange their Canadian Citizenship (no need to move since they are already here) for an amerikan consumer label and a liberal refugee can go there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Most of the Canadians here are wonderful people

But there is at least one who seems to think his purpose here is to denegrade American public education. I am glad to see someone else has noticed him. We teachers are about over the guy.

[Greyhound]

26. Most are, but the (far) northern capitalists are every bit as bad

as our domestic variety. I've had the misfortune of living among and dealing with them for about 15 years and have been frequently shocked by their attitudes. They hate their 'liberal' government as much as any of the neo-cons. Of course they don't hesitate to return to Canada for the benefits they get for being Canadian Citizens whenever it suits them.

[Walt Starr]

15. I'd flunk taht kid

He'd lose at least one grade for the comment. It doesn't belong in the assignment. Most likely,m he deserved an F on the assignment because he obviosuly doesn't know the material.

[txindy]

19. That kid has 'EE': Evolution Envy

His gene pool never evolved, that's readily apparent.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. I live in Overland Park

and the Blue Valley School District is fundie central. There is a group of parents there led by a homeschooling mom that wants certain books banned in the district. This area is also the home of mega churches gallore.

And it is a very wealthy area. I call it LA LA LAND.