Should Creationism be included in the curriculum of home-schooled children in Tennesse?

Answer 1

Gary's retarded, pedantic tirade is the reason why a lot of Americans are anti-science.

But then he says this:
"The thing to remember is that evolution is still just a theory - a hypothesis, a speculation, an unproven assumption."
Any idiot can tell you that a theory is not a guess or a speculation. The main tactic of creationists is to use 'theory' in its colloquial sense and assign that meaning to the scientific explanation of the evolution of species.

Anyway, to the question: let the homeschoolers learn what they want and let them be taught what they want. It's their right.
But if they're going to be taught Creationism as an explanation for life, it's their children who suffer from a lack of a proper, fact-based education.

Answer 2

Home-schooling operates as a sort of private school and thus its curriculum isn't dictated by the state. As long as the kids can pass qualification exams for the diploma, the curriculum can be whatever the parents choose. Scary, no?

Answer 3

Depends on the parents. Even if it was part of the curriculum, the parents could choose not to teach it to their kids.

I mean, if they try and test their children, what would the test consist of? Something like this no doubt:

1)True or False:
God created the universe?

2)Who created the universe? Was it
a) The cookie monster
b) your parents
c) God

3) Write 5-10 words on how great God is:
God is so great that he's the greatest.

I mean, come on.

Answer 4

No. It can be taught as religion but not as science.

I see we have the tired old Cambrian explosion trotted out again. It is about time the creationist sites caught up with science. Check the Ediacaran fossils for pre-cambrian life forms.

"Evolution is just a theory". A theory is as good as it gets in science. Gravity, electricity, germ theory, relativity etc etc are all "just" theories. There is more and better evidence for evolution than there is for either Newtonian or Einsteinian gravity.

Sadly, few home-schooled children will learn that. They will be kept in ignorance by ignorant parents.

Answer 5

It depends on the way that it is used. If the story of creation is used in a science class, I think it is wrong. It is a story of faith. It was never a story of science for the Jews, and it should not be forced into that as some Christians do. For me, it is a story of faith. There are two seperate stories of creation, and both of them are different. So, there is no pure story of creationism anyway. If it is used in a Bible class, that is different. If it is used in a literature class, that is also different. I do not think that the story should be used in science. Well, unless you want your kids to be closed minded fundamentalists that don't know anything outside of scripture. Oh ... wait .. some people DO want that. Sad isn't it?

Answer 6

Sean you spelled my state's name wrong! =[

Home schooling is up to the parent. There is a curriculum given by the school which my sister-in-laws follows, but any parent is welcome to 'add to' as long as they don't 'take away.'

As long as the child can pass the tests required at each grade, whatever the parent teaches is up to him or her. My sister-in-law home-schools my niece and guess what, she teaches Creationism! There is even a huge home-schooling section in our Christian bookstore!! :)

Does that scare you sweetie, do you want a hug? :)

Answer 7

Here in Pennsylvania, parents can choose their children's home school curriculum. As long as they teach the kids the state-mandated topics like reading and history, they can then teach whatever 'extras' they want.

Answer 8

Only if it is included under "Religion and Philosophy," but most certainly NOT as a part of any science curriculum. And why is it that Tennessee is singled out as the focus of this question?

Answer 9

Bill Clinton said, "We need to help home schoolers"
When I heard that pervert say these words that was definitly the last nail in the coffin on his credibility. For the federal government to HELP them.. in any way is obviously against the very point of doing home schooling. Whether you are liberal or conservative you want to raise your kids with the influence of BIG BROTHER (especially big brother bill if you have daughters)
So.. your question must be withdrawn. It is moot.

Answer 10

Guys, homeschooled kids still have to follow a curriculum, as do private schools. The curriculum isn't as strict as public schools, though. However, parents can't just make up what they want to teach their kids.

And can we please give up this insistance that creation makes any sense at all?

Thanks.