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Location: Currently I physically reside on the 3rd planet from the sun
2,220 posts, read 1,872,361 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TPetty
Should evolution be thought in public schools in the U.S.? I think it should. Tell what your honest opinion is.
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I believe evolutionary theory should be taught in high school and be required in college core classes.
I believe the dicrepancy between fact and theory should be clearly defined. Most descriptions of evolutionary fact will describe variance within species. Variance within species simply means survival of the fittest. Those with the genetic proclivity to adapt to changes in environment will become the dominant representatives of that gene pool over time.
This does not explain shifts from one species to another - the genetic pool for the species remains constant only the configuration changes. The DNA, or species does not change.
The other "fact" of evolution is the common gene pool. All life on earth originates from a common gene pool. This "fact" derives not from empirical data but a preponderance of evidence.
This is my understanding, if anyone has more information to share which updates, modifies or invalidates these statements I would like to hear them.
ALL theories should be taught. They are only theories - any of them. Sadly, schools today don't teach the basics of scientific investigation; i.e., postulate a theory and then use scientific proofs, facts and evidence to prove or disprove the theory. It was one of my daughter's biggest complaints about college (she was a bio major) - all too often, the professors were trying to 'prove' something to ensure that they got their grant money, even if all facts denied the theory that they were paid to prove.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 08-12-2011 at 04:16 PM..
Reason: Edited out reference to deleted post
I think evolution should be taught in science class, and creation(ism) should be taught in either theology, religious philosophy, or other religious class.
The Theory* of Evolution is the basis of modern biology.
*Hint: It's a set of empirical facts explained by a theory. It's not a hypothesis, it's not a guess. Theory means explanation in this context.
//100,000 Creationists will read this and still say "it's only a theory" in every debate on this topic.
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