That's not totally true, because there are so many definitions of
evolution. Microevolution and natural selection are a fact. The theory of
evolution by means of natural selection (ie common ancestry/the tree of
life/macroevolution) is a theory
You're right that students are not being taught it though. Many high school
teachers shy away from teaching it altogether (even with state testing, they
give take home tests, don't lecture on it, etc). They hedge it with
statements made to eliminate controversy. And it's no wonder, even my
college professor colleagues got called "Spawn of the devil" by irate
parents (though I am, after all, in Texas).
I agree with what someone said that this stuff should be taught from a young
age. Not just evolution but critical thinking, the nature of science and how
science is foundational to our culture and world. One editor at Sci Am mag
once said, "Science used to be foundational. Now it's a side. So I'm on a
side, I'm pro-science." It's truly sad that the country's understanding of
science is so pi$$-poor that people fight against the very thing that is a
bedrock of modern society.
Off my soapbox... :) Peace out!
Wendee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology
Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian
http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com
http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com
~~6-wk Online Writing Course Starts Feb 21, 2009~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Better to light a candle than curse the darkness'
-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Kevin Murray
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:37 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Gallup poll on evolution
There is no theory of evolution. Evolution is a fact, it happens. The theory
is evolution via natural selection. If people don't know this already it's
because we aren't teaching them.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 11:34 AM, David Inouye <ino...@umd.edu> wrote:
> http://www.gallup.com/poll/114544/Darwin-Birthday-Believe-Evolution.aspx
>
> PRINCETON, NJ -- On the eve of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's
> birth, a new Gallup Poll shows that only 39% of Americans say they
"believe
> in the theory of evolution," while a quarter say they do not believe in
the
> theory, and another 36% don't have an opinion either way. These attitudes
> are strongly related to education and, to an even greater degree,
> religiosity.
>
