Like climate change, evolution is a scientific concept that stirs strong emotions and dubious political activity, such as the venture into asshatery that resulted in the Scopes trial in 1925. However, curriculum is set by the individual states. Which states do a good job with evolution?
The answer is that curriculum-based coverage is exemplary in CA, CT, HI, IN, NC, NJ, PA, and SC. The states that really miss the mark are AL, AK, AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, ME, MS, ND, OH, OK, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, and WY.
Iowa is uncolored. Apparently, evolution does not happen there.
In general, those are the states which leave science curriculum matters to science educators and actual scientists. It's not only amazing that curriculum might be impacted by legislative action, but it's sheer egotism on their part!
It's just as well that the Laws of Thermodynamics are not in question, usually. But I have heard of a group in Kansas that doubts the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
who knew? - iowa is switzerland.
ReplyDeleteThose who are firmly fixed on the biblical creation story rather than the scientifically based theory of evolution might be happier living in a place where religious beliefs trump everything else. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran come to mind.
ReplyDeleteHuman evolution is sort of like the elephant in the room.
ReplyDeleteYou are a good journalist!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Some of the reds seem strange as do some of the greens.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big controversy going on now at Bryan College in Tennessee regarding evolution. It's located where the Scopes trial was held.
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