This is an interesting question! What do you do? I just recently finished my unit on Evolution, and so far so good. I kept reminding the students that this was a theory and these pieces of evidence (fossils, vestigual structures, etc) were just there to help support the theory, but did not provide cold-hard evidence that this is the only way things could have happened.
I ordered the hands-on kit from the John Day fossil beds and it was great! The kit contains horse fossil casts that were found in the John Day fossil beds and other local fossil beds. This really brings fossils to life for the students and they were really excited to go through all the activities that were included in the kit. It was a great find for sure!!!
I had a student leave class because his religious beliefs forbid learning about evolution. I talked with him but he was very firm. I respect his beliefs and his choices. It is hard for me personally to understand but as a teacher I can remain objective, not take it personally, and be okay with not understanding.
I understand how those kids might feel. I am a biology teacher with a faith in God as well. I too had a situation where a few kids were disagreeable about the evolution content (it was brief). Because I didn't have time to get into a big theological discussion with them, I told them that everyone has an opinion. Later, we talked about how God may have created life to change in order to adapt to the ever changing environments. I think they were accepting of that explanation, but no one really knows.
You are teaching in a public school so there is an obligation to present many, varied viewpoints. I have said to a few of you privately, Some parents want their children to go to school, but not necessarily to be educated. " Your job is to remain unbiased and open-minded and let your schoolchildren write their own slate of views and beliefs.
In matters of religion, I was careful to never wear a cross (or any other religious articles) while teaching. I feel that my religious views have NO bearing on my life in the classroom. I can be a moral and good person without espousing a religious view.
I have been researching intelligent design and according to a recent ruling (Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District et al. 2005), it is against the law to even present an idea on th origin of life other than evolution if there could possibly have some kind of religious background to it within the science classroom. Intelligent design, according to this case, is not science and therefore has no place in the science classroom. In social studies where they teach a varying religious beliefs, its ok. I watched a program about the case on the NOVA website. It was interesting and it could give you more information on it.
This is an interesting question! What do you do? I just recently finished my unit on Evolution, and so far so good. I kept reminding the students that this was a theory and these pieces of evidence (fossils, vestigual structures, etc) were just there to help support the theory, but did not provide cold-hard evidence that this is the only way things could have happened.
ReplyDeleteI ordered the hands-on kit from the John Day fossil beds and it was great! The kit contains horse fossil casts that were found in the John Day fossil beds and other local fossil beds. This really brings fossils to life for the students and they were really excited to go through all the activities that were included in the kit. It was a great find for sure!!!
I had a student leave class because his religious beliefs forbid learning about evolution. I talked with him but he was very firm. I respect his beliefs and his choices. It is hard for me personally to understand but as a teacher I can remain objective, not take it personally, and be okay with not understanding.
ReplyDeleteI understand how those kids might feel. I am a biology teacher with a faith in God as well. I too had a situation where a few kids were disagreeable about the evolution content (it was brief). Because I didn't have time to get into a big theological discussion with them, I told them that everyone has an opinion. Later, we talked about how God may have created life to change in order to adapt to the ever changing environments. I think they were accepting of that explanation, but no one really knows.
ReplyDeleteYou are teaching in a public school so there is an obligation to present many, varied viewpoints. I have said to a few of you privately, Some parents want their children to go to school, but not necessarily to be educated. " Your job is to remain unbiased and open-minded and let your schoolchildren write their own slate of views and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteIn matters of religion, I was careful to never wear a cross (or any other religious articles) while teaching. I feel that my religious views have NO bearing on my life in the classroom. I can be a moral and good person without espousing a religious view.
I have been researching intelligent design and according to a recent ruling (Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District et al. 2005), it is against the law to even present an idea on th origin of life other than evolution if there could possibly have some kind of religious background to it within the science classroom. Intelligent design, according to this case, is not science and therefore has no place in the science classroom. In social studies where they teach a varying religious beliefs, its ok. I watched a program about the case on the NOVA website. It was interesting and it could give you more information on it.
ReplyDelete