RE: Challenges to teaching biology

Yesterday, I received my author's copies of Teachers of Vision Magazine
with my article in it. Actually, I should say abbreviated article,
because the editor took out all the "objectionable" parts apparently so
as not to shake up their largely creationist audience. An article two
pages before mine was titled "Evolution and the Christian Public School
Teacher." So naturally I was curious. The author, Andrew McCaskill, is
a biology teacher in a public school in central Virginia.
 
Here are some excerpts:
 
"If we are to challenge students to look beyond the hype, we must be
prepared to share the truth, even if it is in an inconspicuous manner."
(Sound good so far, or does that word "truth" ring an alarm bell?)
 
"Therefore, I don't teach evolution but origins. This minute change in
vocabulary makes a world of difference and is Biblically congruent."
(Do you sense it coming?)
 
"During my lessons, I compare evolution to Swiss cheese and describe how
both are riddled with holes." (snip) "Students learn that evolution's
foundations are not solid and are in danger of crumbling." (snip) "It
still amazes me that biology textbooks use manipulated information as
evidence for evolution." (We should alert Ken Miller so he can see his
books are purged of this!)
 
"I expose my students to the truth about half truths used to
substantiate evolution and show them specific examples (Peppered Moths,
The Miller-Urey experiment, Haeckel's embryos and other "Icons of
Evolution") still touted in some biology textbooks as critical evidence
in support of evolution." (It sounds like he is familiar with the
published works of Jonathon Wells, whose ignominious book has been
thoroughly rebutted, by the way. See: http://www.natcenscied.org/icons.
But then, maybe they don't have Google in central Virginia.)
 
"The students are generally stunned at the deception involved." (These
must be high school students, unless they teach biology at the primary
school level where it sounds like McCaskill is better suited.)
 
(And what does our biology teacher do to assure his students get good
information?) "I have developed a class website where students and
family can find updated homework assignments, general information, the
biology syllabus and many links to Christian sites (like Answers in
Genesis:www.answersingenesis.org, a treasure trove of information
related to biological sciences.)" (Ah, that bastion of biological
information: Answers in Genesis!)
 
McCaskill's bio states: "He enjoys teaching courses related to the
Creation/Evolution issue, where he defends a 6-day recent creation
event." (A position which, of course, negates everything we know about
biology.)
 
One can only hope there are a few enlightened students in McCaskill's
biology class who can give him the same kind of grief Prof. Frisby gets
in his.
(http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-evolution31mar31,0,66355
88.story)
 
Dick Fischer
Dick Fischer, Genesis Proclaimed Association
Finding Harmony in Bible, Science, and History
 <http://www.genesisproclaimed.org> www.genesisproclaimed.org
Received on Sun Apr 2 13:37:56 2006