Texas School Standards: Age of the Universe Erased
(PhysOrg.com) -- The fight over the new education and curriculum standards for the public schools in Texas has been long and publicized. Most of the publicity, though, focuses on the school board's focus on "intelligent design" as it relates to the biological question of evolution. Because evolution has long been contested in public schools, it is no real surprise that this has gotten the most play from the media. But one thing that hasn't been mentioned as much is the fact that the Texas school standards also remove mention of the age of the universe. Long-standing ideas of cosmology are being challenged as well.
2. Comment #365663 by Nails on April 17, 2009 at 6:54 am
3. Comment #365664 by irate_atheist on April 17, 2009 at 7:01 am
4. Comment #365666 by Roland_F on April 17, 2009 at 7:05 am
The universe is just one day older than earth. And humans are just 2 days older than earth. Very simple.5. Comment #365671 by bujin on April 17, 2009 at 7:17 am
If it wasn't so serious, it would be hilarious. Texas is rapidly becoming the laughing stock of world education. Their school standards are organised by people who are incomprehensibly stupid.6. Comment #365673 by AdrianT on April 17, 2009 at 7:22 am
This is an attempt to make it OK to argue that the world is 6000 years old. To make placard waving crackpots campaigning against contraception, any abortion from the moment of conception, gay rights and sex education, as not complete lunatics.8. Comment #365677 by heafnerj on April 17, 2009 at 7:26 am
9. Comment #365680 by flobear on April 17, 2009 at 7:35 am
10. Comment #365682 by Coruscator on April 17, 2009 at 7:38 am
Inside Centre - 'Seems to me like this is the exact opposite of what the Prof calls 'conscientiousness raising.'11. Comment #365683 by firstelder_d on April 17, 2009 at 7:38 am
"concept of an expanding universe that originated about 14 billion years ago." However, board member Barbara Cargill thought this wasn't good enough. It was too definite. The standards now read, "current theories of the evolution of the universe including estimates for the age of the universe."
12. Comment #365688 by chewedbarber on April 17, 2009 at 7:47 am
13. Comment #365689 by Quetzalcoatl on April 17, 2009 at 7:49 am
14. Comment #365694 by Tyler Durden on April 17, 2009 at 7:56 am
Having taught biology for many years, I assure you that high school students are smart, savvy, and curious. A sound teaching strategy is to allow them to discuss multiple aspects of controversial subjects. For example, when evidence for universal common ancestry in the fossil record is taught (i.e. scientific strength), then the contradictory evidence showing the huge gaps of missing transitional fossils in the record must also be presented (i.e. scientific weakness). We must educate our students -- not indoctrinate them by letting them hear only one side of an issue.Barbara Cargill taught biology?!?!?! The poor students. I wonder if she taught "stork theory" along side sexual reproduction just to, ya know, allow them to discuss multiple aspects of controversial subjects.
15. Comment #365695 by TheLordHumungus on April 17, 2009 at 7:58 am
16. Comment #365696 by stephenray on April 17, 2009 at 7:58 am
The universe is not evolving in that sense. It is merely developing.17. Comment #365697 by Inside centre on April 17, 2009 at 8:01 am
18. Comment #365698 by aristophanes_rising on April 17, 2009 at 8:01 am
19. Comment #365700 by rod-the-farmer on April 17, 2009 at 8:05 am
20. Comment #365705 by quantum_flux on April 17, 2009 at 8:10 am
21. Comment #365710 by robotaholic on April 17, 2009 at 8:16 am
22. Comment #365712 by Godfree Gordon on April 17, 2009 at 8:20 am
23. Comment #365719 by Oystein Elgaroy on April 17, 2009 at 8:34 am
24. Comment #365720 by PabloDF on April 17, 2009 at 8:35 am
How exactly are school board members elected in Texas? Are they selected from the top scores in Sunday schools' Biblical quizzes or something like that?25. Comment #365724 by quantum_flux on April 17, 2009 at 8:37 am
26. Comment #365726 by Tyler Durden on April 17, 2009 at 8:38 am
27. Comment #365737 by chewedbarber on April 17, 2009 at 8:48 am
28. Comment #365746 by phasmagigas on April 17, 2009 at 8:58 am
Originally in the Texas school standards was this phrase: "concept of an expanding universe that originated about 14 billion years ago." However, board member Barbara Cargill thought this wasn't good enough. It was too definite.
Until now, matters of space have been very little addressed in terms of religion
After all, couldn't God have created the universe well before putting humans on Earth£ But it appears that by working from Earth outward, some are becoming concerned. If God created humans on Earth just a few millennia ago, then Earth can't be 4.5 billion years old. And if Earth isn't as old as all that, surely the universe isn't, either. It's an interesting train of logic
29. Comment #365749 by JonLynnHarvey on April 17, 2009 at 9:00 am
Texas of course publishes text books used throughout the USA so this effects a lot more folks than Texans.30. Comment #365750 by chewedbarber on April 17, 2009 at 9:02 am
31. Comment #365751 by FredNurke on April 17, 2009 at 9:02 am
For a truly innovative concept on the age and cycles of the universe, check out the work of Steinhardt and Turok:32. Comment #365754 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 17, 2009 at 9:04 am
33. Comment #365755 by Rikitiki13 on April 17, 2009 at 9:05 am
34. Comment #365756 by phasmagigas on April 17, 2009 at 9:06 am
then the contradictory evidence showing the huge gaps of missing transitional fossils in the record must also be presented (i.e. scientific weakness).
35. Comment #365760 by quantum_flux on April 17, 2009 at 9:09 am
36. Comment #365765 by Stafford Gordon on April 17, 2009 at 9:14 am
How stupid.37. Comment #365780 by dirigibleBehemothaur on April 17, 2009 at 9:31 am
I like Richards analogy regarding the age of the universe, stretch out your arm and imagine if the big bang was your shoulder and present day the end of your nail on your middle finger then you could erase the whole of human history with one stroke of a nail file.38. Comment #365781 by Count von Count on April 17, 2009 at 9:33 am
I think, what is possible, is to show kids the math equations involved in General and Special Relativity, and show them some of the math of Quantum Mechanics and thereby show them that it is a hypothetical model of the Universe to assume Dark Matter and Dark Energy, but that it is in all honesty, probably not the correct one.
The Universe is likely to be Eternal ...
...Roger Penrose hypothesizes a cyclic ... universe...
39. Comment #365783 by crookedshoes on April 17, 2009 at 9:34 am
40. Comment #365785 by aristophanes_rising on April 17, 2009 at 9:38 am
41. Comment #365786 by NewEnglandBob on April 17, 2009 at 9:41 am
42. Comment #365788 by godless1 on April 17, 2009 at 9:47 am
If God created humans on Earth just a few millennia ago, then Earth can't be 4.5 billion years old. And if Earth isn't as old as all that, surely the universe isn't, either.
43. Comment #365790 by severalspeciesof on April 17, 2009 at 9:57 am
44. Comment #365791 by zeroangel on April 17, 2009 at 10:00 am
45. Comment #365794 by quantum_flux on April 17, 2009 at 10:13 am
46. Comment #365795 by Caudimordax on April 17, 2009 at 10:13 am
I am no expert in astronomy but can't astronomers prove the cosmos is 14 billion years old because light travels at a constant speed thus they are able to calculate that some stars are 14 billion light years away?
47. Comment #365806 by dirigibleBehemothaur on April 17, 2009 at 10:29 am
Pz Myers has a useful tool for the good people of the Texas school board.48. Comment #365808 by Caudimordax on April 17, 2009 at 10:35 am
distance = (velocity)x(time) should be a concept understood by second gradersI agree with CvC, it's very unusual for kids that age to grasp a concept like that. And the state that public education is in in the US (especially for disadvantaged kids) means that my husband spends part of his high school geometry class trying to explain the concept of the area of a rectangle. Einstein? They never heard of him.
49. Comment #365814 by Rowdy1 on April 17, 2009 at 10:46 am
50. Comment #365815 by quantum_flux on April 17, 2009 at 10:47 am
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1. Comment #365662 by Inside centre on April 17, 2009 at 6:54 am
For these people and their odd little minds it seems that the less their kids learn, the better their education. Bizarre.
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