An educational angle we all could live with? (Philosophy of Science)

What conflict? That people still believe in the flat earth or that the wind blows north and south? That people still believe that somehow light traveled for millions of light years in only 6 thousand years? What do you recommend? Torture chambers for scientists that disagree with preestablished doctrines?Science is about progress and exploration of the unknown, not chasing after fairy tales while turning a blind eye to obvious evidence, or the lack thereof.Sorry, a little cranky today.This message has been edited by Troy, 05-16-2005 06:06 PM

Having been a tutor and TA for quite a while (don't worry, I'm a step closer to a phd everyday ), I am quite sure that students at a middle school and high school level are not mentally and intellectually equipped to start learning the philosophical standpoint behind science. I am convinced that it is better for them to criticize science out of ignorance than to hate science out of total shock.Perhaps such a curriculum is possible for gifted students... but I think that is still pushing it.I was in the gifted and talented academy in high school and graduated 6th.. (or was it 8th?) in my class. I studied with some of the brightest people I know. I can definitely tell you that many of us were not ready to study in depth the material regarding the matter that I began to study in college.In other words, I think it is better for high/middle school students to take a leap of faith about the matter before being expected to know the why's and the how's.Make sense?

Actually, that's not a bad idea, although I really don't many kids benefiting from such a program. Besides, who would pay for it?

No, it is not. Do you or do you not agree that ID involves the supernatural? If so, then it is not science and should not be taught in science classes. If you answer no, then please suggest a way for us to measure the designer... like finding out how much it weighs.