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Kansas Board of Ed. Adopts Intelligent Design

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the why-do-they-have-to-use-the-word-intelligent dept.

kwietman writes "The Kansas State Board of Education voted 6-4 to allow science students in public schools to hear materials critical of evolution in biology classes. The new curriculum mentions that theories of life arising from similar building-block molecules through purely random processes can be challenged by recent findings in the fossil record and by molecular biology. Not all were happy, however. 'This is a sad day. We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world, and I hate that,' said board member Janet Waugh. The new standards will be used in statewide standardized testing; the students are still expected to know 'basic evolutionary principles.' As part of the decision, the Board of Education also went so far as to redefine science itself, saying that it is 'no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena.'"

23 of 2,136 comments (clear)

  1. Not surprising by Phoenix666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    That they believe in Creationism. After all, living in Kansas they're probably convinced the world is flat, too...

    --
    Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
  2. Hey Kansas! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world, and I hate that

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!!!

    -- The World

  3. Cue the jokes about... by gardyloo · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...noodly appendages.

  4. Thank God by MarcusX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thank God we'd never elect a fundamentalist like this to a high government office; the do enough damage in the schoo.... fuck.

  5. Re:Good For Them by hunterx11 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course I don't like Jesus--he still owes me 10 bucks!

    --
    English is easier said than done.
  6. Re:Good For Them by BarryNorton · · Score: 4, Funny
    it's pretty obvious if you study the theory that it really does have a lot of areas where uncertainty reigns
    Yes, I think we should drop from education the idea that astrophysics and relativity theory, and particle physics and quantum theory, are the dominant theories in science and put on an equal footing the assertion that a big blue teddy bear named Cyril is reponsible for all human observations - that will teach those Bear-hating heathens to leave their models incomplete...
  7. as usual on slashdot by Clover_Kicker · · Score: 4, Funny

    I look forward to an enlightened, civilized discussion about this controversial subject.

  8. Re:Darwinism by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    "You will find that in OUR science courses, we do not teach about boogie men, evil spirits, elves or sprites...."

    Or as an alternative...

    "'Science'? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

  9. Re:2006 election by Petronius · · Score: 4, Funny

    They'll be able to experience "survival of the fittest" in Technicolor. muahahahaha.

    --
    there's no place like ~
  10. Re:Mind-boggling by hunterx11 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Personally I am offended that they teach Newtonian mechanics in the schools. Aristotle was much older and Greek, and therefore a more authoritative figure. And even the scientists themselves will reluctantly admit that Einstein disproved part of Newton's theory! I'm not saying that we only have to teach Aristotelean physics, but it is only fair to be open-minded and teach the controversy.

    --
    English is easier said than done.
  11. Re:Darwinism by Council · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Going for a science degree, huh? From Kansas, are you?"

    "Okay, you're gonna want to sit down for this."

    --
    xkcd.com - a webcomic of mathematics, love, and language.
  12. Re:definition of evolution by Eightyford · · Score: 4, Funny

    Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?

    Sigh. Yes, sadly I have, but the Cardinal only moved him to a different church as punishment.

    jk

    --
    Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
  13. New bumper sticker by beforewisdom · · Score: 5, Funny

    New bumper sticker:

    "If you can read this, you are not from Kansas"

  14. Re:Jesus? by RaistlinN16 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's at times like these that I thank God that I'm an atheist.

  15. Re:Darwinism by cgenman · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should teach the new map of the US.

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    The ______ Agenda
  16. Re:You are only hurting yourself you know.... by tomhudson · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just goes to show ... the Board of Education will end up doing more damage to the US than any terrorist group could ever have hoped for. "Get 'm while they're young ..."

    ... and it's spreading ... (any errors in translation from the french are my responsibility)

    Montreal, Quebec
    Tuesday, November 8, 2005

    A Ste-Rose resident plans to appeal a ruling by the Canadian government denying his group tax-exempt status. Monsieur Maurice Duplessis, who now insists on going by the name "Chef Boy-R-Dee", has stated that unless the government reverses its decision, his so-called "Pastafarians" will sue the government for infringing their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

    Apparently, M. Duplessis claims that his sister-in-law saw the face of Jesus as she was finishing a plate of spaghetti. She said, jokingly, that they should offer it on eBay. M. Duplessis claims that when he saw the plate, he felt "an epiphany, a revelation", and that a quick search on the internet revealed the Cult of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

    "They were offering a reward of $1,000,000 if someone could prove that Jesus was not the son of FSM, so I knew that I was not the only one," said M. Duplessis.

    When asked about his new title, he said "I was named after one of the worst premiers in the history of this province; nobody would take me seriously with a name like that. I had another revelation while we were shopping at Provigo - so now I am Boy-R-Dee".

    Apparently, M. Duplessis has had several meetings with supporters, including their first "church service", held in their home. "Think about it - even the Catholic Church acknowledges the central importance of the breaking of bread and drinking of wine, and the communion by eating of the body of Jesus; these are all elements of pastafarianism"

    When asked how many supporters he had, he declined to give an exact figure, saying it was "more than 10, less than 20".

    Government sources had no comment, citing privacy legislation.
    Is there no end to this, [tt]abernac?!?
  17. Re:Darwinism by Mad_Rain · · Score: 4, Funny

    Heh, in that case, let me help by linking to a refresher course in Intelligent Design.

    --
    "What do you think?" "I think 'What, do you think?!'"
  18. Re:Misleading headline by c0d3h4x0r · · Score: 4, Funny

    2)It redefined the meaning of science. According to the new definition, science is no longer is limited to searching for natural explanations for natural phenomena.

    Excellent! So now student "science" fair projects can be about... well, pretty much anything!

    --
    Moderator hint: a comment is neither "Flamebait" nor "Troll" if it is true.
  19. Re:Religions don't even back ID by jcr · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm atheist, and hold in high regard jesuit priests, for giving me an excellent scientific education, devoid of any supernatural ideas.

    They're pretty good about that these days, since they have that whole Galileo fracas to live down.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  20. Re:You are only hurting yourself you know.... by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 5, Funny
    You are absolutely correct. So correct in fact that I think I'll re-define 'genius' to mean: "a rube who doesn't understand that you can't just redefine words that the rest of the world has agreed as to the meaning of, just to suit your own agenda."

    You sir, are a genius.

    --
    -- I ignore anonymous replies to my comments and postings.
  21. Re:You are only hurting yourself you know.... by ankarbass · · Score: 4, Funny

    "But I agree, if religion bothers you, stay away from the heart of America (which is not only Utah, but pretty much everywhere outside the dense urban areas of the United States)"

    What does "the heart of america" nonsense really mean? Do you mean rural america or are you trying to lay claim to being a part of some moral majority? Did the founding fathers label some particular part of the United States as the heart and other parts as some other kind of body part? I think you've been watching to many chevrolet advertisments.

    One thing's for certain; nobody is labeling rural america as the "brain of america", and with kansas on your side, that's not likely to change anytime soon.

    --
    Wanted: Clever sig, top $ paid, all offers considered.
  22. Re:You are only hurting yourself you know.... by Schemat1c · · Score: 4, Funny

    So what?

    What a clever and intelligent response. Did you go to school in Kansas?

    --

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
  23. The Flying Spaghetti Monster Does Exist by Soporific · · Score: 5, Funny

    The flying spaghetti monster does exist. In reality it is a proven fact that after visiting an Italian restaurant and consuming spaghetti, beer, port, anisette, beer and at times tequila the legendary flying spaghetti monster will appear. However its most natural habitat seems to be (oddly enough) the same as the porcelain god's. Its other possible habitats include concrete, tarmac, carpeting and cars. In either case, the flying spaghetti monster usually will return to it's ancestral homelands within 24 hours through a "water disposal system".

    ~S