Fellow realists, how do we keep wacko, superstitious "intelligent design" people out of your public school?

Answer 1

I don't know. The separation of church and state has no value anymore...I give up, man.

No I don't, I'm kidding. We have to keep fighting for our right to have religious topics out of public schools. They belong in church and sunday school.

Answer 2

That depends on your definition of "wacko". That's too broad a term really. What I think is crazy, you might think is completely normal. If you have a problem with the public school system, yank your kid out of it. You can also talk to your Congressman if something upsets you about the curriculum. I'd stear clear of words like "wacko" & "superstitious" though. You can disagree with someone else's beliefs or them pushing them on your child without resorting to petty name calling.

Answer 3

First and foremost, I am a realist. And I am also a man of some faith. Truthfully, I personally find more of an argument for "Intelligent Design" than for Darwin's theory of evolution. But that is a personal opinion that I am entitled to, just as you are entitled to yours....

That said...

The question I have for you is this... What is it that you fear from people who have faith in "Intelligent Design" as you put it, anyway? The country was founded on religious freedom, both the right to worship whatever god you may worship, and the right not to, if you choose. Whatever kids attend schools funded by tax dollars have the right to think, feel and believe whatever they want. I have to question the fear and judgemental mentality of a person who is so afraid that one other person, who just happens to be a person of some type of faith, may have influence over their kids. But, the very same quantitive minority of parents who are so vocal against children that have some sort of faith (Notice that I said "Against CHILDREN". Its easier to hurt those that don't have the experience and understanding to be able to fight back properly, so they pick on children like cowards...), seldom show any similar concern for whether or not their child is unduely influenced by gang peer pressure, drug dealing 10 year olds, bullying, whether or not their own children carry weapons to school (at least, not until the child goes nuts and winds up on a killing spree), or any number of vastly and agreeably worse influences than some child who tries to live their life by some semblance of moral code, that their child may make friends with.

Human beings, as a community, are made stronger by their differences. It has been proven time and time again historically that isolationism destroys and diminishes the whole of the people. It is said that when you reduce a family tree to a family bush, you can't bury as much beneath it. If you just wipe out all those that happen to think differently than you do, you also lose all they stand to help you with. All the strengths they have to offer are also lost. History records many atrocities of genocide based in the same type of fear as this irrationality. It is a crying shame when a parent has an irrational fear that some other person's child may have different ideas than they do, and that the irrational fear that person feels, is enough to warrant legislating away the rights of those others who may have just as much or more good to offer to the fearful person than others who think the same way as them.

In closing, I am not trying to be argumentative or harsh. I am just pointing out that just as you have the right to be a redneck, or thug, or socialite, or gay or straight or whatever, those people have the same right to their faith. If you like to watch Nascar, or are a football fan, would you want someone telling you that your love of the sport you like is wrong and that they are trying to make it illegal? I think that the weapons WOULD come out over something like that.

Anyway, hope this helps...

Answer 4

well, teaching literature, mythology and comparative religion isn't bad for public schools. what we want is to keep religious myths out of our public school science class. keep actively involved with your local school board and county commission and make sure your Representatives recognize your views as a voter. when Fundies start pushing their agenda get together with parents
and other concerned citizens and push back.

take heart. Kansas just repealed the law that would have put "creationism" in their state's public school science classes.

Answer 5

we need them IN public schools! Over 75% of evangelical creationist Christians are home schooled. ALL of the students accepted to Bob Jones University were home schooled. And the University that sends the MOST INTERNS TO WORK ON CAPITOL HILL???? Bob Jones University.....truly scary when you think about where tomorrow's leaders are going to come from!

Answer 6

1. Read about where it is happening
2. Show up where it is happening
3. Speak up where it is happening
4. Vote
5. Teach children to read everything. Only through exposure to a variety of ideas will they excersize their inane ability to reason for themselves, and throw off the shackles of ingorant beliefs.

Answer 7

Petition, write letters, voice your opinion to the school officials, etc.

Really, do what the superstitious "intelligent design" people are doing.

Answer 8

As long as people have blind faith, you can't. Someone who claims to have all the answers can't be reasoned with. This is why we have this war on terror abroad and the war on science at home.

Answer 9

You don't have any. The students run the schools now. Where have you been?

Answer 10

I really don't know... I guess if it comes down to it, we'll have to go through a LOT more "Dover" trials.