Alaska Republican gubernatorial candidate Palin on creationism:Teach both
October 27th, 2006
The Anchorage Daily News is carrying the story today that Republican Alaskan gubernatorial candidate Sarah Palin responded to a question at the recent KAKM Alaskan Public Television debate on teaching “creationism” in the classroom: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."
The top of the story is pasted below.
PS: I loved the little secular editorialization right from the get-go, “The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public…” (my emphasis on “volatile.”) I’m curious; what is the criterion for determining that “creationism” is “volatile?”
Was there a fire extinguisher available of a firefighter nearby when the subject came up?
The article goes on to say:
“In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in
"I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."
She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum.
Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
"I won't have religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism," Palin said.
Palin has occasionally discussed her lifelong Christian faith during the governor's race but said teaching creationism is nothing she has campaigned about or even given much thought to.”
'Creation science' enters the race
GOVERNOR: Palin is only candidate to suggest it should be discussed in schools.
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html
By TOM KIZZIA,
The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the
Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night's televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."
Her main opponents, Democrat Tony Knowles and Independent Andrew Halcro, said such alternatives to evolution should be kept out of science classrooms. Halcro called such lessons "religious-based" and said the place for them might be a philosophy or sociology class.
Read the rest of the article here.
The end of the on-line version of the article included:
• HALCRO: "I think anything that is religious-based in, in concept, you know, really should, needs to be taught in the proper channel -- philosophy, sociology. I don't think it should be taught as a science."
• KNOWLES: "... The answer is no. The reason why is we don't want politics in our science. We actually want more science in our politics. We don't want to just teach all things because it may be politically correct. We want to teach the best science there is, and there is overwhelming evidence, there's almost incontrovertible evidence that evolution is the science that, that we know. And that's what we should always teach, to never compromise on the principles just because it's politically popular."
• PALIN: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. "Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject -- creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."
THE BLOG: Speak out on the issues.
ELECTION: Look at past stories and find links to Web sites.
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