Possible Relocation to Houston and desperately worried about my children's science education! (Howe: schools, live)

[Mommy/Artist/Lawyer]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

You're working under the misconception that evolution is an entirely random system. One of the main mechanisms of evolution, natural selection, is far from random.

This makes an even stronger argument for intelligent design in my opinion. How do emotions like grief and anger fit into natural selection or non-random evolution devoid of mindful decision? Like oil and water the two don't mix.

[LostInHouston]

Originally Posted by Mommy/Artist/Lawyer

This makes an even stronger argument for intelligent design in my opinion. How do emotions like grief and anger fit into natural selection or non-random evolution devoid of mindful decision? Like oil and water the two don't mix.

A VERY general definition of natural selection: genetic variants that aid survival and reproduction are much more likely to become common than variants that don't.

I think it's pretty clear that human emotions provide survival and reproductive advantages.

[TexasTheKid]

Originally Posted by Mommy/Artist/Lawyer

For humans, existence on this earth is one long string of design decisions. We invent, we purpose, we plan and we have goals from the simple to the complex. Like opting to make instant oatmeal with milk instead of water, squeezing a toothpaste tube from the bottom instead of the middle, planting St. Augustine instead of bermuda, completing a thought or writing a book we are continually executing design decisions over and over again from birth until death. If the inhabitants of the planet suddenly stopped making design decisions all human activity would cease. Even our bodies would eventually shut down without the design decisions involved in eating. It makes no sense that design would be such an integral part of existence but would have had no role in its conception. If the conception of humanity were truly random then the randomness would be ongoing and humans wouldn't make design decisions at all. We would just mill around like zombies.

This explanation resembles the explanations given by Calvinists, and it's never sat well with me from a Christian theological standpoint. Every decision made since the beginning of time was known and manipulated by some behind-the-curtain marionette master? You may take umbrage with my wording, but this is ultimately what this is, manipulation, if this is all by design. This smells of preordination which is contrary to the fundamental Christian belief that our afterlives are ours to decide upon. If every decision we make (and every decision ever made) is part of some grand design, then obviously we really have no control over our ability to make that decision. And, if that's the case, then we really are nothing more than zombies milling around.

[movingtohouston]

You may look into Clear Creek ISD. It serves the area surrounding NASA. I have noticed a strong science program and at the intermediate level there is a science magnet school at Seabrook Intermediate. They also have magnet programs for math.

Clear Creek Independent School District: Seabrook Intermediate

[Houston3]

Originally Posted by iamspike

My husband is seriously considering a job at the Texas Medical Center and may try to live in the West University neighborhood. We are progressive and value liberal arts education without religious influence. We want our children to have a good science education taught by good science teachers who won't teach creationism or intelligent design as a 'fair' alternative to evolution or use the bogus 'academic freedom' argument to critique evolution with ideas that are religious dogma. Our kids haven't been raised with any religious views, and would probably not like (or even get into trouble) if surrounded by Baptist or Catholic true believers.

Do we have to pay for private school tuition? If so, I'm afraid Houston is out (can't afford it). Is there a magnet school that doesn't just use science as an excuse to get some middle class kids, but has a real culture of secular and progressive values?

Related question: we are laid back. Not into authoritarian schools. Do they all have dress codes? It seems unnecessary. And so they all start at 8 or 8:10 and have "disciplinary" rules if a kid is "tardy"? Really, where is the focus on what they learn rather than whether they respond to bells like some Pavlovian dog?

Last, if it is clear we don't belong in Houston, please tell us that to our face. Or if there is a community of people like us there, please tell us how to get in touch with them!

After reading your post a couple of times I've come to the conclusion that the best thing for you to do is, Open your own school... That way you can control the thoughts of your children...Be damned should they learn that people can be different in the world..

[Houston3]

WOW!!!!!! Keep your mouth shut Houston3.....

[Houston3]

Originally Posted by RCH99

.....so, should the OP move here, or not?

Not to my neighborhood...LOL

And I am a very welcoming person...

[ShelbyGirl1]

Originally Posted by movingtohouston

You may look into Clear Creek ISD. It serves the area surrounding NASA. I have noticed a strong science program and at the intermediate level there is a science magnet school at Seabrook Intermediate. They also have magnet programs for math.

Clear Creek Independent School District: Seabrook Intermediate

I think you actually may have to be on time at the above schools mentioned.

[movingtohouston]

Originally Posted by ShelbyGirl1

I think you actually may have to be on time at the above schools mentioned.

True, I went and reread the original first post after I posted and realized they wouldn't fit the bill either.

And you know what's funny, when I grew up I attended a catholic grade and high school. You would think that they would only teach creationism. I think I learned more about evolution and pure science than my friends that attended public school. In religion we were taught that God created the world but in science it was the complete opposite, we learned everything but creationism, at a CATHOLIC school.

Oh ya, we had to wear uniforms and be on time too. LOL

[Mommy/Artist/Lawyer]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

A VERY general definition of natural selection: genetic variants that aid survival and reproduction are much more likely to become common than variants that don't.

I think it's pretty clear that human emotions provide survival and reproductive advantages.

If emotions provide survival and reproductive advantages then why don't animals have them to the same degree that humans do?
Be specific how do bitterness, hate, jealousy, arrogance and sadness provide survival and reproductive advantages?

Emotions are intangible. You cannot view them under a microscope. Emotion has no measurable physical presence and is only detectable if some one expresses it verbally or with body language. So how does something that has no substance evolve without an intelligent source?