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Also see the archival list of the Essays on Science and Society.
ESSAYS ON SCIENCE AND SOCIETY: Not (Just) in Kansas Anymore
Eugenie C. Scott
Antievolutionism in many forms is afflicting science education in the United States today. The particular settlement and religious history of America, respectively characterized by local control and lack of hierarchy, is largely responsible. Although conservative, fundamentalist Protestants are the core of antievolutionists, the sentiment is growing among more moderate Christians, largely through the efforts of the "intelligent design" creationists. Teachers are pressed to introduce biblical creationism or creation "science," to teach "evidence against evolution" and/or to disclaim evolution as "only a theory" (meaning guess or hunch). To avoid further decrease in science literacy, scientists actively need to counteract the antievolution threat.
The author is at the National Center for Science Education, 925 Kearney Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530-2810, USA. E-mail: scott{at}natcenscied.org
The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:
In Science Magazine
LETTERS
Anthony White, Walt Meier, Frank Lovell, Wes McCoy, Charles J. Robinove, Tyler F. Creelan, Rudolf Brun, Ian Gordon, Robert Mac West, Ivan E. Collier, Duane T. Gish, William K. Hartmann, Michael J. Behe;, and Eugenie C. Scott (11 August 2000) Science289 (5481), 869d.
[DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5481.869d] |Full Text »
