Christians Want UFOs Discussed In Schools
Now here’s a case of strange bedfellows. In a recent interview on that Anderson Cooper show, in a series they’re airing entitled “God, Faith, and Hard Science,” Charmaine Yoest of the Family Research Council (FRC) argued that debate on the existence of UFOs (among other things) should be a part of the public school curriculum.
Any group with “family” as part of their name tells you what they’re about. Yoest and her cohorts would presumably also include debate on Creationism (or “Intelligent Design”) in their plans. I say fine. Get this stuff out there and let the kids get a little confused for awhile. It might teach them to think about things a bit and realize that thought and discussion is part of coming to conclusions on your own after examining the evidence–something which is apparently in short supply these days.
I don’t suppose for a minute that actual classroom debates would be completely open and balanced, but it puts the germ of ideas into young minds, where they need to be. If the students want, they can continue with their own research.
Of course, many parents who never learned to think for themselves would recoil in horror at the prospect of their offspring having a chance to debate issues rather than have them spoon-fed. Yelling matches at city council and PTA meetings would soon follow, because most people are scared to even think about things that haven’t been approved by the high priests of science. DEVO, one of my favorite bands, were prophets when they declared that we were devolving as a race way back in the late 1970s - that goes for some scientists as well as creationists.
Teach the party line, and then have at it with the debates. Fair enough.
For those who don’t have the time to read the whole debate, here is the relevant section:
COOPER: Do you want your children — Charmaine, do you want your children to be exposed to a belief which the scientific community has disproven? I’m not saying that they have disproven all of this. But, in certain cases, I mean, some things clearly…
YOEST: Sure.
COOPER: … have been disproven.
YOEST: Sure.
COOPER: Things which have been clearly scientifically disproven, do you still want them taught?
YOEST: Well, absolutely. That would — that would come in, in a history of science, in a philosophy of science. That’s why I’m saying, there’s different kinds of classes. So, we’re talking about kind of a broad array of things. Your kids need to know what opinions are out there and — and — and see what the evidence is, consider the evidence.
COOPER: So, for other subjects in a science class that people disagree on, but that have been disproven, the kids should be taught those as well?
YOEST: Sure.
COOPER: They should — they should — they should know that there are other people who disagree on…
YOEST: Absolutely.
COOPER: … just about every scientific issue?
YOEST: I’m not afraid of my kids knowing about any controversy that is out there, as long as you put the evidence on the table and consider what — what the debate is. That’s what education is all about, is having a vigorous debate.
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Apr 07 2007 
April 8th, 2007 at 4:58 am
Speaking as a christian and a parent, mind you not always the best one sometimes. . .
Id say this, it would be better for our children to be exposed to a diversity of theory on origin, scientific thought and free thinking than to wallow in the PC doublespeak our public schools regurgitate now.
If my daughter came to believe the same way I do about stuff based on observation, analysis and testing, rather than just accepting what I or the schools taught her. Well, I would be very proud. I would also be proud if she thought differently as long as she came about it by the application of wisdom and discernment. If she is buying into propaganda or parroting everything her friends say, I will be disappointed.
You can’t prove the existence of UFOs scientifically, but I would wager you could convince a jury. The same holds out for historical events, faith and many tenants of modern thought.
I say Greg is right we should open the curriculum to promote thinking and freedom of expression.
Jess
April 8th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Greg, one of the things I love about this ‘Science’ versus ‘Belief’ malarchy, is it perpetuates the illusion ‘Science’ and ’scientists’ as this wonderful civilised peace-loving open-minded tolerant bunch of common-minded gals and guys only seeking to put a stop to “these religious people” because “they’re so intolerant”.
But you don’t even have to go back over the history of Science and the treatment meted out to the likes of Wegener for ‘Continental Drift’ to see this simply ain’t true.
All you have to do is attend any science conference on almost any science subject and just watch them rip each other to shreds over even the tiniest of contentious issues, often descending - in common with those other exemplars of the utmost rational, the skeptics - to name-calling and personal abuse.
As for teaching Ufology or, indeed, Creationism?
Well, yes, they are much disputed - but then what isn’t? You only have to compare your country’s history books on the American Revolution to those of the UK’s, or the Islamic World’s to those of the Western World’s on, for instance, the history of the Crusades to realize this.
What’s really needed is classes on how to think, how to appraise data, what really constitutes evidence, how to recognize unconscious bias in oneself and others and so on.
April 8th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I’d actually enjoy a classroom discussion of things like this. Well, I’ve tried to start classroom discussions like this before…but if it’s part of the curriculum, perhaps it’ll go over better.
I wonder how science has disproven the existence of UFOs. UFO means Unidentified Flying Object, no? Surely those exist.
I agree with DEVO, Mr. Bishop. I’m a senior in high school, and things are sad. The last debate I remember having was about Florida and the moon…one girl was convinced the moon was closer than Florida, because she could see the moon but couldn’t see Florida. The teacher and I nearly cried. These people are going to be running the country soon!!!
Anyway, I think the answer to the evolution/creation debate is quite simple. What if we have a theory class that presents all the different creation stories from many religions around the world AND the evolution/Big Bang theory, and let the kids digest it? Sure, their parents will probably turn them on to one or the other, but at least they’ll get all the angles. I’ll openly say that the best class and best teacher I ever had was the class where, every day, we learned something about the human mind that challenged everything from religion to how we perceive the world we see. I loved it! And I feel I’ve grown from it, too.
So I say why not! Schools are too bland, too “acceptable”, these days. Stir it up a little–after all, way back when, the giant squid was just a legend and the sun revolved around the earth, you know.
~Y
April 8th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Strange is the name of the game: Darwin himself was an agnostic only because his daughter has died of illness at 10. He however remained a deeply spriritual man his entire life who sought to understand the nature of life. He never denied a belief in a Creator or God. Many of the Fundamentalist Christian vilify him as atheist but he wasn’t. Many of the atheist hold him up as their patron saint but he rejected atheism for it’s narrow mindedness.
The thing that really bother me about modern scientifc education is that it almost completely rote learning with no actual scientific research being done. Why watse the time and money on the evolution vs. creation debate? My sister is a teacher and she states clearly that she doesn’t teach music anymore as much as she teaches social indoctrination. Little wonder so many parents are home-schooling these days.
April 8th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Jess,
At least you’re aware of the issues. I’d bet that many parents are not.
“You can’t prove the existence of UFOs scientifically, but I would wager you could convince a jury.”
I would too, but what is it that exists?
April 8th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
crg,
Didn’t know that about Darwin. Good stuff.
I’m iffy on the home schooling thing. How do the kids get enculturated? It’s important to be part of the maze so that you can find your way out of it. That’s part of learning too.
April 8th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Alan,
“What’s really needed is classes on how to think, how to appraise data, what really constitutes evidence, how to recognize unconscious bias in oneself and others and so on.”
Right on the money.
April 8th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Yards,
I’m glad to see we’re getting more and younger people visiting and commenting.
When I was in high school, we were constantly challenged to come up with our own ideas in a few of my classes. This continued in college. My father did and continues to do this with me as well. I was lucky. You appear to have the same guidance.
How about a Federal program of “no brains left behind?” Uh oh, now I’m getting too utopian.
Florida closer than the moon? A high school senior?! No, she won’t running the country, but she’ll be voting.
April 9th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Gregg,
The upshot with homeschooling is the enculturation. There are support groups where the children all get together and play. There are sports teams, church groups and community projects.
It gives parents the ability to monitor and control what their children are exposed to. Sometimes thats good and sometimes its bad. Unlike the typical public schools the difference is you will find parental involvement and parents can modify the nature of the groups by consensus. Try doing that at a PTA meeting.
Jess
April 10th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Jess,
Sounds good, but it’s still not the same thing. I hope for the kids’ sake that this works. If parents were more proactive with their childrens’ education, maybe things would change over time, but people are so busy just trying to survive.