Dr. Forbush Thinks

Some people have begun to ask the question: “Should Intelligent Design be mandated public education?”

First of all, the only things that "needs" to be taught in school are the basics - reading, writing and mathematics. Even history is taught from a subjective point of view making it questionable whether any history should be mandated by law in some particular version that a government official thinks is right.

In addition to these three subjects, students need to be taught to think for themselves. This above all other points will help create a better society. And, the purpose of education is to enable our citizens to know enough for our society to function as a "real" democracy.

The purpose of additional education is to give students a survey of the world around us. From a diverse collection of teachers teaching a diverse collection of subjects the students learn about themselves and the world around them. They will learn what they want to pursue as a profession, and how society functions. You can not mandate this type of education responsibly.

But, lets face it, Intelligent Design was created for religious zealots to get creationism into the public schools. On the face of it Intelligent Design is an attempt at an end run around the separation between church and state. It is a way for government to mandate that there is a God. This is certainly a bad idea for a public school. If you want religious education for your children, then send them to a religious school.

But, religion could be taught in public school in the correct context. It would be much more honest in every way if Creationism were taught in school as a alternative idea with no scientific evidence or support. It should be clearly taught that only some religious people believe this and there are equally strange ideas that other religions have. They should teach Native American myths and Greek myths in the same class, and it should in no way be connected to a science class. Under those circumstances Creationism could be taught in public schools.

However, if it is taught in a mythology class it would no longer get the support of the religious right and the idea would lose steam.

politics, evolution, Intelligent Design and education