You suggested evolution was not important. It is one of the most essential elements in the knowledge and understanding of science. You suggest not bothering with such science to give priority to other things. So what do you mean if that is not removing evolution? Doing things like that, not bothering with essential parts of learning because they can't be taught other stuff like reading and writing is symptomatic of the whole problem, not a remedy to it. They canât find England on a map quite possibly because someone said âGeography is only 3%.. a minor issueâ You think it will appease teachers some way to remove stuff so they just do less? Thatâs going to do kids justice how exactly?
I never said evolution wasn't important, nor did I say it shouldn't be taught. I did say that it's possible for kids to learn to read, write and do basic math irrespective of their beliefs on the subject. A few years ago, one of the top theoretical physicists at UCLA said that he found evolutionary theory to be "inadequate." It create quite a stir, but it obviously didn't stop him from learning math and physics. I'm not advocating or even suggesting that evolution not be taught; but it is, by measure of content, a small part of the K-12 educational curriculum that consists of many subjects (grammar, compostion, literature, music, art, foreign languages, US History, World History, math, chemistry, biology, physics, etc). I don't accept the proposition that anyone who doesn't believe in evolution can't learn anything else either. That brings me back to the bigger point: Fifty percent of high school graduates don't know who Isaac Newton was, and an equal number can't find England on map. Most can't do simple math. Do you expect them to even begin to grasp evolutionary science?
Yes I do expect them to begin to grasp evolutionary science. The basics, certainly. You donât? Just as I expect them to do simple math AND understand why Newton was so important. I expect that they be taught about evolution, one of the most important aspects of science, as they would or are supposed to be taught, any one of the most important aspects of math. That they are not, or at least not learning it, and that you sound like you think that is ok in regard of evolution, is disappointing, cheating them even more, making matters worse. Not helping in my opinion. No other major developed country does that, as far as I know.
I maybe wrong but I think you're misreading it. I may also be misreading you, your English sucks. Although I have no doubt your English is infinitely better than my best rendition of whatever your native language is.
No, you want them to incorrectly believe, as you do, that evolutionary science and the existence of God are mutually exclusive.
Of course I WANT them to grasp it -- but a system that can't teach students to read or do basic math, or even locate England on a map, is in a state of total collapse. THAT'S MY POINT. The entire system has failed and needs to be revamped. Arguing about evolution or any other single subject is just re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The entire ship is sinking. It doesn't matter what song the string quartet is playing is playing on the aft deck. The ship is going down.
Ok, and I'm saying a system that can't teach students to read, or do basic science (which by necessity includes evolution), do basic math (which by necessity includes multiplication), or even locate England on a map, is in a state of total collapse.