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16% of US science teachers are creationists
by New Scientist
Thanks to Clayton Smith for the link.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13930-16-of-us-science-teachers-ar
16% of US science teachers are creationists
By Bob Holmes
Despite a court-ordered ban on the teaching of creationism in US schools, about one in eight high-school biology teachers still teach it as valid science, a survey reveals. And, although almost all teachers also taught evolution, those with less training in science — and especially evolutionary biology — tend to devote less class time to Darwinian principles.
US courts have repeatedly decreed that creationism and intelligent design are religion, not science, and have no place in school science classrooms. But no matter what courts and school boards decree, it is up to teachers to put the curriculum into practice.
"Ultimately, they are the ones who carry it out," says Michael Berkman, a political scientist at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
But what teachers actually teach about evolution and creationism in their classrooms is a bit of a grey area, so Berkman and his colleagues decided to conduct the first-ever national survey on the subject.
'Not shocking'
The researchers polled a random sample of nearly 2000 high-school science teachers across the US in 2007. Of the 939 who responded, 2% said they did not cover evolution at all, with the majority spending between 3 and 10 classroom hours on the subject.
However, a quarter of the teachers also reported spending at least some time teaching about creationism or intelligent design. Of these, 48% — about 12.5% of the total survey — said they taught it as a "valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species".
Science teaching experts say they are not surprised to find such a large number of science teachers advocating creationism.
"It seems a bit high, but I am not shocked by it," says Linda Froschauer, past president of the National Science Teachers Association based in Arlington, Virginia. "We do know there's a problem out there, and this gives more credibility to the issue."
Better training
When Berkman's team asked about the teachers' personal beliefs, about the same number, 16% of the total, said they believed human beings had been created by God within the last 10,000 years.
Teachers who subscribed to these young-Earth creationist views, perhaps not surprisingly, spent 35% fewer hours teaching evolution than other teachers, the survey revealed.
The survey also showed that teachers who had taken more science courses themselves — and especially those who had taken a course in evolutionary biology — devoted more class time to evolution than teachers with weaker science backgrounds.
This may be because better-prepared teachers are more confident in dealing with students' questions about a sensitive subject, says Berkman, who notes that requiring all science teachers to take a course in evolutionary biology could have a big impact on the teaching of evolution in the schools.
Journal reference: PLoS Biology (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060124)
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13930-16-of-us-science-teachers-ar
16% of US science teachers are creationists
By Bob Holmes
Despite a court-ordered ban on the teaching of creationism in US schools, about one in eight high-school biology teachers still teach it as valid science, a survey reveals. And, although almost all teachers also taught evolution, those with less training in science — and especially evolutionary biology — tend to devote less class time to Darwinian principles.
US courts have repeatedly decreed that creationism and intelligent design are religion, not science, and have no place in school science classrooms. But no matter what courts and school boards decree, it is up to teachers to put the curriculum into practice.
"Ultimately, they are the ones who carry it out," says Michael Berkman, a political scientist at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
But what teachers actually teach about evolution and creationism in their classrooms is a bit of a grey area, so Berkman and his colleagues decided to conduct the first-ever national survey on the subject.
'Not shocking'
The researchers polled a random sample of nearly 2000 high-school science teachers across the US in 2007. Of the 939 who responded, 2% said they did not cover evolution at all, with the majority spending between 3 and 10 classroom hours on the subject.
However, a quarter of the teachers also reported spending at least some time teaching about creationism or intelligent design. Of these, 48% — about 12.5% of the total survey — said they taught it as a "valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species".
Science teaching experts say they are not surprised to find such a large number of science teachers advocating creationism.
"It seems a bit high, but I am not shocked by it," says Linda Froschauer, past president of the National Science Teachers Association based in Arlington, Virginia. "We do know there's a problem out there, and this gives more credibility to the issue."
Better training
When Berkman's team asked about the teachers' personal beliefs, about the same number, 16% of the total, said they believed human beings had been created by God within the last 10,000 years.
Teachers who subscribed to these young-Earth creationist views, perhaps not surprisingly, spent 35% fewer hours teaching evolution than other teachers, the survey revealed.
The survey also showed that teachers who had taken more science courses themselves — and especially those who had taken a course in evolutionary biology — devoted more class time to evolution than teachers with weaker science backgrounds.
This may be because better-prepared teachers are more confident in dealing with students' questions about a sensitive subject, says Berkman, who notes that requiring all science teachers to take a course in evolutionary biology could have a big impact on the teaching of evolution in the schools.
Journal reference: PLoS Biology (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060124)
Comments 1 - 50 of 54 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #182574 by FightingFalcon on May 20, 2008 at 2:44 pm
First!
US courts have repeatedly decreed that creationism and intelligent design are religion, not science, and have no place in school science classrooms. But no matter what courts and school boards decree, it is up to teachers to put the curriculum into practice.
I'm convinced that some people just want to make a story when there is none.
Teaching Creationism is banned in schools - period.
edit: Bah, Partisan beat me!
Other Comments by FightingFalcon
3. Comment #182576 by Monty Burns on May 20, 2008 at 2:48 pm
"16% of US science teachers are creationists"Well, they might loosely be described as "science teachers" but they're clearly not scientists, because if they were they'd rely on the evidence rather than wishful thinking. I think they should be fired - it would be like learning a foreign language from a xenophobe.
"This may be because better-prepared teachers are more confident in dealing with students' questions about a sensitive subject"
It's not tricky: "So, you're a creationist. Where's the evidence? No, bible verses don't count. No, attacking evolution doesn't count - where's your theory? Where are your observations? No, that spooky feeling you get when you pray doesn't count either." Maybe I just missed my vocation here...
Other Comments by Monty Burns
4. Comment #182579 by EvidenceOnly on May 20, 2008 at 2:57 pm
We need a new survey about math as well:- How many math teachers do teach that 1 plus 1 is 2?
- How many math teachers teach this together with the belief that 1 plus 1 is 3 (or any other number)?
- How many math teachers only teach the belief that 1 plus 1 is 3 (or any other number)?
Can we make these kind of surveys such that teachers who deviate from the scientific theory automatically send in their resignation?
I'm sure they can find alternative employment in some government recognized faith-based initiative instead.
With enough faith, the "intelligent designer" provides for all your needs, so employment is really not that important :)
Other Comments by EvidenceOnly
5. Comment #182590 by Bruno on May 20, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I guess this is why statistics like these (below) really shouldn't surprise us:"Americans rank next-to-last on a survey of 34 nations' acceptance of evolution as a scientific fact. Our awareness of this scientific reality has actually gone down over the past 20 years, no doubt as a result of the so-called "intelligent design" movement and other Christian fundamentalist campaigns. In fact, frequent churchgoers in the US are most likely to doubt evolution. How will their children - and ours - become the great scientists, doctors, and engineers of tomorrow?"
Answer: They won't.
http://richarddawkins.net/article,555,Unscientific-American-US-Almost-Last-in-Understanding-Evolution,RJ-Eskow-The-Huffington-Post
Other Comments by Bruno
6. Comment #182607 by Grantaire of JC on May 20, 2008 at 4:02 pm
First of all, where did these 2000 teacher surveys come from? All public schools? Private schools? A random average of schools scattered from all over the United States? Of course there were 16% who chose to delicately use their influence and shape the curriculum in their favor. They personally did not believe the evolution was the answer and so taught the class giving it the briefest cover. Did the teachers feel that a counter proposal was necessary? If you were a teacher and you were religious, how enthusiastic would you be teaching evolution when you've put your soul (and eternity) on there being a "divine" purpose? Wouldn't you feel that you were damning your students by taking god out of the picture? I am actually glad that the number is only 16% and I hope it drops as time goes on.Other Comments by Grantaire of JC
7. Comment #182614 by Mango on May 20, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I'd like to know the spatial distribution of the creationist teachers. Are they clustered in certain states/regions? Other Comments by Mango
8. Comment #182628 by WilliamP on May 20, 2008 at 5:08 pm
This means that at least 16% of US science teachers are complete morons.Other Comments by WilliamP
9. Comment #182631 by Big City on May 20, 2008 at 5:14 pm
My high school's biology/chemistry teacher was the local Baptist preacher. We were pretty much taught that evolution was a view that some scientists had whipped together. In his defense, though, he never said (in class) that there was a creator or anything religious like that. However, in biology class once, he did explain in detail why homosexuality was 'wrong'.Are they clustered in certain states/regions?This was in rural Georgia, and I know he would never receive any sort of resistance from the community, even if he treated the classroom like a church.
Other Comments by Big City
10. Comment #182642 by GordonYKWong on May 20, 2008 at 5:53 pm
100% of these biology teachers are damn fools. FOOLS I SAY...
We all know that we humans are all created perfect by the benevolent Flying Spaghetti Monster, just last Tuesday in fact.
Other Comments by GordonYKWong
11. Comment #182652 by heafnerj on May 20, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I'm surprised the percentage is this low. Teaching simply isn't valued in this country as evidenced by how easy it is to become "certified" to teach in the public schools. I'm certainly not saying that all teachers are incompetent because that simply isn't true. However, many are especially when it comes to science. Other Comments by heafnerj
12. Comment #182655 by AoClay on May 20, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I've met quite a few theistic evolution believing biology teachers. Even they are quite scary just because they tend to twist language (putting the cart before the horse, etc.) Other Comments by AoClay
13. Comment #182656 by moderndaythomas on May 20, 2008 at 7:04 pm
says Linda Froschauer, past president of the National Science Teachers Association based in Arlington, Virginia. "We do know there's a problem out there, and this gives more credibility to the issue."
At least someones admitting this is a problem.
Berkman, who notes that requiring all science teachers to take a course in evolutionary biology could have a big impact on the teaching of evolution in the schools.
An absolute novel approach to education. First educate the teachers. Why haven't they thought of it before?
Other Comments by moderndaythomas
14. Comment #182659 by moderndaythomas on May 20, 2008 at 7:18 pm
AoClay
I've met quite a few theistic evolution believing biology teachers. Even they are quite scary just because they tend to twist language (putting the cart before the horse, etc.)
I know the type. Slip in a schematic.
4.6 billion years ago the Earth forms, 3.6 billion years ago the first protocell forms,
evolution, evolution, evolution...the image of God/I mean homo sapiens.
Other Comments by moderndaythomas
15. Comment #182664 by ksskidude on May 20, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I wonder how many of the so called "science teachers" are actually scientist's? It also makes me wonder how many of them actaully "teach" science with the intent of teaching creationism or at the very least NOT teaching evolution? Other Comments by ksskidude
16. Comment #182674 by Zoron on May 20, 2008 at 8:30 pm
How is this possible?Is USA turning into a third world country?
Don't they have some mechanisms to prevent this kinds of things occurring like every normal country?
Other Comments by Zoron
17. Comment #182683 by quantum_mechanik on May 20, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Doesn't really state whether they're public school teachers or private school teachers. If it includes private school teachers, this statistic isn't that interesting--Probably follows in line with the teaching philosophies of their institutions.Other Comments by quantum_mechanik
18. Comment #182684 by dragonfirematrix on May 20, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Hey! This is America!
The GOP (Christian right) promotes the Neanderthal religious beliefs of Christians. That is why Ameirca cannot advance anymore.
America is returning to the beliefs of the Neanderthals, so its children can suffer the lack of education, suffer from decease, suffer from the lack of real education, and suffer from the abosolute hatred and filth of the Abrahamic religions.
Other Comments by dragonfirematrix
19. Comment #182685 by Zoron on May 20, 2008 at 9:13 pm
You mean in USA if you have private school you can circumvent country's school curriculum? Other Comments by Zoron
20. Comment #182686 by 7Fred7 on May 20, 2008 at 9:14 pm
It seems incredible that such senseless anti-scientific ignorance isn't filtered out in the selection of teachers. 1 in 6 'Not shocking'? It is to me.Other Comments by 7Fred7
21. Comment #182687 by quantum_mechanik on May 20, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Zoron: Yes, in USA private schools can teach whatever they please. Religious institutions can teach ID, creationism, whatever they feel is important.Other Comments by quantum_mechanik
22. Comment #182703 by 82abhilash on May 20, 2008 at 10:08 pm
While it is true that private schools in USA can teach anything they want, I am pretty sure that if the US schooling system was fully privatized, there would be very less creationism taught in schools. Why? Because schools that try to pass it off as real science will not get enough students to stay in business. Kids that go to those schools will not get a career as scientists. They will be left behind the same way illiterates are left behind in a civilized society.It is impossible to force religion onto anyone without assistance from the government. That is why all religions seek protection and endorsement from government run institutions either directly or indirectly.
On a positive note, given the fact that people tend to vote out creationists in from school boards in the US there is room for cautious optimism.
Other Comments by 82abhilash
23. Comment #182710 by mordacious1 on May 20, 2008 at 10:26 pm
science teacher/creationist=oxymoron
My son is taking Biology I next semester. Guess I'll have to give the teacher my own questionare.
Other Comments by mordacious1
24. Comment #182722 by William Wallace on May 20, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Well, you all should see how my son's first grade teacher created her own science warning label that stated "People who don't believe in the true God and creation make up these stories about our world. Christians believe in the true Creation".Other Comments by William Wallace
25. Comment #182745 by Szkeptik on May 20, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I actually thought it would be higher. Not like this figure makes me satisfied, but that at least means that not all science teachers in the Bible Belt are creos.Other Comments by Szkeptik
26. Comment #182746 by Raiko on May 20, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Wow. I just imagine my friend (a science teacher) would walk into her school and just do something illegal... And proudly tell people she does. Other Comments by Raiko
27. Comment #182789 by Logicel on May 21, 2008 at 1:17 am
82abhilash wrote: On a positive note, given the fact that people tend to vote out creationists in from school boards in the US there is room for cautious optimism._____
Yes, very cautious optimism, as the IDiots on now focusing on changing State legislation via their Academic Freedom Bills.
Other Comments by Logicel
28. Comment #182792 by V'Ger on May 21, 2008 at 1:20 am
So... if a teacher is a creationist... what do they actually teach? I mean - lessons must be pretty short, and the exams must be a doddle."God did/made it" - cut and paste for every answer then cross out as appropriate!
Other Comments by V'Ger
29. Comment #182805 by HitbLade on May 21, 2008 at 2:00 am
Would you want a creationist to be your teacher? even if said creationist didn't teach creationism?Other Comments by HitbLade
30. Comment #182826 by V'Ger on May 21, 2008 at 2:49 am
No.. I would not want a teacher of mine, or my children to be a creationist - even if they did not teach creationism. The reason why?
I equate beliefs in such things to a severe lack of intelligence. Not a quality which anybody would see fit in a teacher.
Other Comments by V'Ger
31. Comment #182900 by muhammads_horse on May 21, 2008 at 5:31 am
I don't know how it works over there in the States, but isn't the obvious solution to increase the presence of evolution in exams? If an in-depth, working knowledge of evolutionary theory was a heavy part of the SAT's, schools with students constantly pushing out low science results could be indentified and sorted out.I live in Oz and if any school here tried to leave evolution the school would be put to shame in the national exams and the teacher would be sent packing.
Other Comments by muhammads_horse
32. Comment #182977 by Border Collie on May 21, 2008 at 7:08 am
Seems to me that, by definition, if a teacher teaches creationism, that teacher is not actually a science teacher. Sorry, Partisan, they probably won't fire them in the US. It depends on the school and the state, though. I know that if they tried to fire a teacher in Texas for teaching cretinism (sp?), there would be thousands of YECs and churches protesting the firing. On the other hand, we know what happens in Texas to teachers who step even slightly outside the line in teaching evolution. Other Comments by Border Collie
33. Comment #182998 by GodMyArse on May 21, 2008 at 7:50 am
Just can't get over the fact that these 'teachers' see their jobs as imparting their opinion to the children rather than the actual syllabus. How is this even possible? And yes, if disciplinary action was to be taken against these law-breakers the well-funded religious supporters would cry persecution of religion, whereas there are documented cases of it happening the other way round and nothing is done to support the victim. They are winning ground on this issue by lies, intimidation, perversion of freedom laws and down-right dirty tricks. Is it really as bad in the US as it looks from over the pond? If so it scares me.Other Comments by GodMyArse
34. Comment #183007 by liberalartist on May 21, 2008 at 8:10 am
As long as a community welcomes the teaching of creationism and no one in that community is willing to stand up and say no, the students of said community will receive a crappy education. Thus is the American edcuational system. Then when they get to college they can't make it in the sciences. This is just one problem with our education in the US, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but we've mainly been importing our technological and scientific prowress for years. Other Comments by liberalartist
35. Comment #183053 by arogop on May 21, 2008 at 9:43 am
dragonfirematrix
The GOP (Christian right) promotes the Neanderthal religious beliefs of Christians. That is why Ameirca cannot advance anymore.
Thats about as ignorant as me saying that all liberals want to kill children.
GOP does not mean Christian right.
Other Comments by arogop
36. Comment #183068 by quantum_mechanik on May 21, 2008 at 10:25 am
Wow. This is interesting.The constant referencing of religious people as Neanderthals is getting to be a bit depressing. I'm going to assume that you guys don't actually know what neanderthals are.
82abhilash: Free-market solutions don't work in regards to poor science education. If it did, the alternative medicine market wouldn't be so lucrative.
V'ger: "I wouldn't want my kids taught by a creationist because I equate that viewpoint with a lack of intelligence." to paraphrase. Sounds similar to "I wouldn't want my kids taught by negros because they just aren't as smart." or "I wouldn't want my kids taught by gays because they, simply by existing, espouse a lifestyle I find immoral."
Huh.
Other Comments by quantum_mechanik
37. Comment #183241 by AoClay on May 21, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Oh yes, moderndaythomas.The ones I see use a hard emphasis with "evolutionists believe"
I've met a few that say they'd change their minds if abiogenesis was ever well established (I'm talking about god in general here, not just evolution). So I half want tons of work there so they shut up, even if I know the fault isn't with the scientists.
Other Comments by AoClay
38. Comment #183414 by notsobad on May 22, 2008 at 4:44 am
You can't be a science teacher and a creationist. They obviously don't understand science.The correct title should be 16% percent of people employed as science teachers should be fired at once.
Other Comments by notsobad
39. Comment #183595 by Nova on May 22, 2008 at 10:19 am
Bob Holmes:The researchers polled a random sample of nearly 2000 high-school science teachers across the US in 2007. Of the 939 who respondedNot technically a fair survey. It could be biased by the fact that people of a certain view respond more often - so, for example, it might be that only 8% of biology teachers would turn out to be YECs if the other roughly 1000 that didn't respond all accepted evolution, it could be that YEC biology teachers jump at the chance to slap their wacky beliefs onto a poll but that many of the evolution accepting ones think of it with more apathy and can't be bothered to respond.
A situation like this could easily be happening and the fact that about half amount of those polled didn't respond would have definitely biased the results in some way.
Other Comments by Nova
40. Comment #183674 by whupper on May 22, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Did all of the teachers tell the truth in this survey? Wouldn't some of them say they didn't teach creationism when they actually did? After all, they'd have to be admitting they broke the law. So perhaps the real number is higher than 16%.Other Comments by whupper
41. Comment #183742 by quantum_mechanik on May 22, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Notsobad: "You can't be a science teacher and a creationist. They obviously don't understand science." You obviously don't understand logic. Also, let's back away from Christianity and notice how many of you are calling for the necessary expulsion of all Jewish and Moslem teachers, regardless of whatever they put in their classrooms.Other Comments by quantum_mechanik
42. Comment #183744 by notsobad on May 22, 2008 at 5:12 pm
quantum_mechanik,please demonstrate your flawless logic to disprove my statement.
Other Comments by notsobad
43. Comment #183760 by Goldy on May 22, 2008 at 6:15 pm
V'ger: "I wouldn't want my kids taught by a creationist because I equate that viewpoint with a lack of intelligence." to paraphrase. Sounds similar to "I wouldn't want my kids taught by negros because they just aren't as smart." or "I wouldn't want my kids taught by gays because they, simply by existing, espouse a lifestyle I find immoral."
not really. One is a choice, the others are not. You chose to believe, you don't chose your sex, sexuality or race.
Other Comments by Goldy
44. Comment #183773 by quantum_mechanik on May 22, 2008 at 7:34 pm
V'Ger--So, your problem isn't that the issues people have with blacks, Jews, gays, etc. are completely fabricated at worst and unrelated to the teaching profession entirely, but that it's "Not their choice"Other Comments by quantum_mechanik
45. Comment #183774 by quantum_mechanik on May 22, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Notsobad: I can. It's called the "No true scotsman" fallacy. First of all, there are creationist science teachers. They exist. That's what they do. Secondly, the belief that creationists can't be science teachers is flawed because there's no reason someone cannot believe in G-d's creation of the universe and understand and impart scientific knowledge to pupils. "You can't be a TRUE science teacher if you believe this." Is the reply. See the Scotsman fallacy.Other Comments by quantum_mechanik
46. Comment #183881 by Christopher Davis on May 23, 2008 at 5:08 am
Dragonfirematrix,
I speculate that Neanderthals didn't have religious beliefs.
Nova,
I'd be willing to bet that people who tabulated the survey results based their percentages on the 939 responses, not the 2000 inquiries.
Also, I agree with the poster who views YEC beliefs as a sign of ignorance, and I don't think that saying "I don't want my child taught by a YEC" is the same as saying "I don't want my child taught by a (fill in oppressed minority)". That's a straw-man fit for OZ.
Other Comments by Christopher Davis
47. Comment #183896 by irate_atheist on May 23, 2008 at 6:07 am
Please feel free to assume that my usual comment applies to this. Other Comments by irate_atheist
48. Comment #183904 by Styrer- on May 23, 2008 at 6:35 am
Comment #183896 by irate_atheist on May 23, 2008 at 6:07 amIrate, no, I'm sorry, your usual comment eludes me at the moment.
Could you remind me (preferably in bold)?
Cheers,
Styrer
Other Comments by Styrer-
49. Comment #184152 by Laurie Fraser on May 23, 2008 at 7:47 pm
You'll have to forgive me - I'm feeling rather ill after looking at a Godtube video (that'll teach me to go trawling around William Wallace's blogspot.)
I had an astronomy teacher at uni who, after giving us a fascinating lecture on the Big Bang, admitted to the assembled students that he didn't personally believe what he had been taught, because he believed the universe to be only about 6000 years old. Gobsmacked by this, I confronted him after the lecture demnding an explanation. He weakly admitted that it was "difficult" to adhere to his religious beliefs in the face of the scientific evidence, but it was a contradiction he was willing to maintain.
This was not a school-teacher; he was a senior astronomer! Fear of hell can be a powerful thing, wot?
Other Comments by Laurie Fraser
50. Comment #184156 by al-rawandi on May 23, 2008 at 7:54 pm
muhammads_horse,It is next to impossible to fire an America teacher. Thuggish unions make it impossible. Thus we produce near retarded children.
Other Comments by al-rawandi
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1. Comment #182573 by Partisan on May 20, 2008 at 2:44 pm
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