Your thoughts on stickers in biology textbooks?

Question

Some states (Michigan, and Georgia used to) have placed stickers on the inside cover of their biology textbooks. These stickers dismiss evolution in favor of other considered criteria.

Also: how would one feel if similar stickers were placed on the inside flap of the bibles in your church? A sticker that dismissed a church's belief as a quaint notion held by some and one that should be re-examined?

The state of Georgia had theirs removed in 2001, Michigan added theirs in 2005. To my knowledge, Michigan still has theirs. Yes, public schools.

Answer 1

These stickers have been thrown out by the courts as being blatantly unconstitutional ... as in using religious-based arguments to single out evolution.

The text of the stickers *seems* inoccuous:
"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."

Such a statement is true of ALL science. But the fact that these are targeted only at Biology textbooks, and single out evolution among all scientific findings ... is a blatant attempt to separate evolution from everything else in science as somehow diminished.

That is why it is blatantly religious, and thus unconstitutional.

When they advocate putting stickers like this in physics books, then they're being more honest:
"This textbook asserts that gravity exists. Gravity is a theory, not a fact, regarding a force that cannot be directly seen. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."

Or
"This book discusses heliocentrism, the theory that the Earth orbits around a centrally located sun. Students should be encouraged to fully consider the evidence for, and the evidence against, this interesting idea."

Answer 2

Though many seem to glorify scientific findings above the allegorical claims of religious texts (which never really tried to explain everything, anyway), there is no single teaching which holds a monopoly on truth.

We merely find ourselves in such a mindset because, in youth, this belief in scientific findings (however capricious they can be) have been impressed upon us as the only possibility and the only sensibility. This, in fact, has a negative effect on society, and is merely another mask which covers the face of intolerance.

Unfortunately, many individuals who advocate a science-only approach are mirrors of those who advocate a religion-only approach. Both extremes are handicapped, and one must consider both (each to their own taste) when deciding on what is 'true' and what is 'false'.

This must be kept in mind when considering (and criticizing) this campaign. Now, personally, I find this sticker thing to be a little silly, but at the same time... I do see some reason in it.

When you send a child to a religious school, you expect a religious education. When you send a child to a public school, you expect a neutralized education. The advocation of secularism (note: not the same as a neutral education) in a public school as the 'only answer' is as bad as the advocation of Islam or Christianity or Mormonism as the 'only possibility'.

It's only fair: individuals who send their children to public schools, whether by choice or necessity, have a right to oppose the teaching of a secular-only curriculum to their children.

Ridiculous as this may sound, such a sticker is a simple reminder to practice open-mindedness in an environment where individuals should certainly keep an open mind. I haven't seen the stickers themselves, but I fear the execution may have caused more trouble than good.

Answer 3

Wow, that's a new one on me. I've not heard of that happening. I'm not saying it doesn't, but it's just new for me. Nevertheless, I don't think that's really a good thing to do to a textbook. It's basically saying, "Read this, but dismiss what some of it says. No big deal." I do think that science books need to put in all theories of creation (Big Bang, Evolution, and so on) I don't think that creationism is a theory of science. That is a faith story, and it should remain a faith story. Also, keep in mind, not everyone who is a Christian dismisses evolution. I, for one, believe in both God and Evolution. It's called Theistic Evolution. It simply means that evolution happened, but it wasn't just spontaneous. It had a beginning and a creator that started the process. In short, though, that stick is bogus and a tad ridiculous. It only creates confusion in students. That's not a good thing. They are confused enough as it is.

Answer 4

It's their backup plan. They failed miserably to convince the teachings of creationism should be taught in public schools alongside evolution and made themselves look ridiculous in the process. Now they've stepped it back a notch and say things like: "We don't want to replace evolution with creationism, we just ask that you acknowledge there is another choice." They want to teach the controversy. To them, the controversy is that evolution is only a theory and is in a state of crisis, even though it's accepted by 99% of the scientific community. Sounds like a very one-sided debate to me. I think it's ridiculous to place these stickers in textbooks. They say all they want is to have Intelligent Design recognized as an equal argument, we know that's rubbish though. If they get one foot in the door, the other is soon to follow.

Answer 5

thoughts stickers biology textbooks

Answer 6

On Biology texts and not Physics texts. So the Quantum Theory is safe, right?

Not on History books either? What are they, nuts? They should have one that at least states: "History is written by the winners." We all know the American education system needs an overhaul, but this is a little backwards, ne?

Answer 7

It pisses me off, because the way I feel is, it is a Biology class. What should be taught in Biology is biological theory. The question of ones faith shouldn't even enter into it. If a student raises his hand and says, "Well I believe that the earth was created by god, in 6 days" the teacher should be allowed to reply, "that's nice, but we are studying Biology right now, and continue with their biology lesson." I understand that Biology uses a different method than religion, like evidence and stuff, but it's a Biology class.

Biology+Class=Biological theory taught. That's it.

Answer 8

Those stickers are positive evidence of two things:

1. Most politicians are ignorant, especially about science. They are elected by people equally ignorant.

2. Most politicians that are not ignorant are perfectly willing to pander to the ignorant to get re-elected. Politicians are the only vertebrates to function with no spine.

Answer 9

The stickers are a move back towards pre-enlightenment days.

These fools are slowing the intellectual progress of our culture, by trying to return us to a pre-science culture.

Look at the studies that show the correlation between high religiosity and low GDP growth rates for edification.

Answer 10

These stickers are an insult to science and have absolutly no place in text books. It's merely religion trying to creep into our educations systems again.