In the last couple of months, the debate over science standards and evolution has really heated up in Florida.
One important point that seems to be lost in all of the furor is that the standards in question were developed by a committee of scientists and science educators. Who better to decide what should be included in a science curriculum than professionals who actually practice and teach science?
And yet, as seen in the article linked above, a lot of non-experts seem to have no problem elevating their own opinions about science education above those of the professionals.
For instance, at least one member of the St. Lucie County School Board does not understand the way the word "theory" is used in science.
"My children need to be exposed to everything, but taught as a theory," [Chairwoman Carol] Hilson said. "Science is, well, not an exact science. It's all so subjective. There are a lot of holes in the theory of evolution."I can't imagine that we would teach science and not teach intelligent design.
Ms. Hilson appears to be somewhat out of the loop.
There's a very obvious reason not to teach intelligent design in science class:
Intelligent design is not science.
I honestly mean no insult to Ms. Hilson. She probably has very little familiarity with the evidence of evolution and the utter vacuity of intelligent design.
I cannot help but wonder, though, why so many people feel entitled to have firm opinions on scientific topics they clearly know very little about. Even more perplexing--what makes some people feel so comfortable expressing their uninformed opinions in public?
Whatever happened to respect for expertise?
posted by Jeremy Mohn
