[2006/06/19] A.P. Learning to Report Science Wars More Accurately
A.P.
Learning to Report Science Wars More Accurately
06/19/2006 The
Discovery Institute’s media-watchdog blog Evolution
News watched Associated Press fumble at first, but then get
it right to show that new science standards adopted by South Carolina
do not mandate teaching intelligent design. The AP story
printed in South Carolina’s Channel
10 News included a comment that certain officials “worried the change
would open the door to teaching alternative theories such as intelligent
design.” It also first contradicted itself about what the standards
said about teaching critical thinking. To clarify what the standards
said and did not say, Casey Luskin listed five points on Evolution
News why “critical analysis” of evolution does not require “teaching
ID.” Another “critical analysis” debate is going on in
Michigan. Evolution
News reported that microbiologist Ralph
Seelke testified in favor of HB
5251 that calls for students to be able to “use the scientific method
to critically evaluate scientific theories including, but not limited to,
the theories of global warming and evolution,” and to be able to formulate
arguments for and against such theories. Seelke argued this is a
sound strategy for teaching any subject about which there is considerable
disagreement. “There is a term used when we only want student[s] to
learn one side of a story,” he said. “It is called indoctrination,
not education.”
With polls continuing to show a majority
doubt evolution, and with more school boards showing boldness enough to
stand up against ACLU and Americans United threats, and with the
inherent and obvious reasonableness of allowing controversial subjects
to get a critical analysis, the AP and other mainstream media may be
slowly catching onto the fact that they cannot continue to lie and sell
papers. Keep those well-written and soundly-argued letters to the
editor flowing.
[2006/06/19] A.P. Learning to Report Science Wars More Accurately
