by Dietsch on January 31, 2004
A proposed biology curriculum for the State of Georgia removes the word evolution, replacing it with biological change over time. The New York Times also reports that the curriculum fudges on the age of Earth, removing the word long from the phrase long history of the Earth. Some see this as a sop to creationists, many of whom believe Earth to be a mere four to eight thousand years old.
The state’s schools superintendent, Kathy Cox, said in a news conference Thursday that the word evolution causes “a lot of negative reaction” and distracts people from the ideas being taught. Cox argues that people get so worked up about the “monkeys-to-man thing” that they lose sight of the larger ideas of evolution. Cox states that textbooks may still use the word evolution, and that teachers will still be able to use it and to teach related concepts.
Some teachers and scientists, however, oppose the changes, arguing they will provide teachers an excuse for glossing over evolutionary concepts; this, they say, will weaken biology teaching in the state and hinder students who go on to study biology in college.
These changes, though, are part of an ongoing process to overhaul Georgia’s curriculum, and they could be overturned or modified with enough public support.
More:
Forgetting Darwin: Georgia’s proposed science curriculum protects children from the “e’ word
Georgia may shun ‘evolution’ in schools
Cox: ‘Evolution’ a negative buzzword
Proposed Georgia curriculum
Science benchmarks from American Association for the Advancement of Science
by Dietsch on January 30, 2004
From today’s NY Times comes an analysis of the “crisis” in intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The piece examines options the Bush Administration might explore in responding to the problem.
Buried in the piece is this choice quote from an unnamed senior Republican:
“They wove this giant story, based on intelligence assessments that in hindsight — and this is hindsight, remember — were wrong. It’s exposed a huge problem in our intelligence gathering. But who wants to take that on in an election year? Or while you are fighting terrorists?”
Let me get this straight: Who wants to take on problems with intelligence when you’re fighting terrorists?
Jesus.
by Dietsch on January 30, 2004
A new travel site allows you to map the U.S. states or other countries you’ve visited. My state map is bad enough, but my world map is embarrassing. (I do, however, like the code CAFRUKUS that the script passes to the server to generate the map; in terms of curse words, Cafrukus is the new douchebag.)
by Dietsch on January 29, 2004
by Dietsch on January 26, 2004
by Dietsch on January 25, 2004
by Dietsch on January 23, 2004
by Dietsch on January 22, 2004
I don’t cover politics in this blog, but tonight Diane Sawyer interviewed Howard Dean and Judith Steinberg Dean, and she asked Mrs. Dr. Dean about her 50th birthday. I don’t have the transcript, but I’ll paraphrase.
Diane: “For your 50th birthday, he bought you a rhododendron. That’s not exactly hearts and flowers.”
Excuse me, Diane.
What’s not hearts and flowers?
Also, Judith Steinberg Dean is a woman with a successful medical practice, and Diane quoted the Deans’ critics, saying Judith Dean should put all that on hold to traipse around the country on her husband’s coattails because that’s what wives do. I’m sorry, is this the twenty-first century, or is my watch running fast again?
This is why I pay little attention to television’s coverage of politics. It’s all so fucking vapid, it’s just never worth the time.
by Dietsch on January 21, 2004
From the latest newsletter comes this update on the High Line project. In brief, the newsletter states that despite the earlier appeals-court ruling, the High Line is in no immediate jeopardy. Friends of the High Line reasserts that the Bloomberg administration supports turning the structure into a linear park.
by Dietsch on January 21, 2004
“Psy.Geo.Conflux is an annual event featuring current artistic and social investigations in psychogeography. Part festival and part conference, it brings visual and sound artists, writers, urban adventurers, and the public together in New York to engage in walks, presentations, installations and other events with the purpose of exploring the physical and psychological landscape of the city.”
[more | What is psychogeography? | 2003 events]
