<p>In the June debate, McCain said he thought that the decision of whether to teach creationism and/or evolution should be left to the"the individual school districts" in our public schools. Does that seem reasonable to people here?<br>
He may have just been pandering to the religious right, but this kind of thinking worries me.</p>
<p>Link?</p>
<p>And McCain, through all issues, specifically social ones, has been extremely consistent in trying to give power to the states and local areas. This applies to gay marriage, most educational issues, etc.</p>
<p>Disagree with it if you want. I would rather all schools teach science, not creationism (unless they also teach natural selection). But giving power to the states is something with which many people agree. It may be a solution to a huge problem that keeps coming up over and over again. </p>
<p>I would rather have national standards, but we don’t really have those anyway. The education in my state, for example, is crap. I don’t see why this issue is so much different from all the other nonsense children get taught.</p>
<p>What worries me is the notion that the federal government, with absolutely no local accountability, should be involved in K-12 education. Sprry, I don’t subscribe to the notion that Nancy Pelosi knows best.</p>
<p>I think McCain adheres to the philosophy that the government which is closest to the people governs best (and that government which governs least governs best). Those are two basic tenets of Conservatism. </p>
<p>Why should the FEDERAL government mandate something which is best decided by individual states, local governments or school districts? They are perfectly capable of making many decisions themselves - and most conservatives think the more decisions made by local governments the better!</p>
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<p>Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007 </p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with the states deciding- they usually are in the driver’s seat regarding curriculum. I have a problem with leaving it to the individual school districts.</p>
<p>Maybe this was just a blunder on his part. He is pretty out of touch.</p>
<p>I don’t think there need to be federal science standards to keep creationism out of public high school science classes. </p>
<p>However, it’s not up to individual states or school districts, either – as the courts have determined time and again, teaching creationism (or its more politically savvy brother, intelligent design) in public schools is religiously motivated and a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment.</p>
<p>^ His response was more than adequate, in my opinion. Of course, state/school district is odd, but with a state that is very divided religiously and politically, it will cause as many problems as a national standard would.</p>
<p>I personally believe that creationism had some role in our history.</p>
<p>“I personally believe that creationism had some role in our history”</p>
<p>Then do it in History Class not in Science Class.</p>
<p>“Then do it in History Class not in Science Class.”</p>
<p>How about in no class? I wouldn’t mind that. Try reading by posts, kthxbai.</p>
<p>Molliebatmit has it exactly right. The courts have ruled repeatedly that teaching creationism in public schools is a violation of the Constitution. But maybe McCain isn’t the strict Constitutionalist that he’d have us believe.</p>
<p>I don’t think the Federal government should be doling out tax dollars to districts who don’t teach factual information.</p>
<p>If you want to be self-sufficient, if you want the federal gov’t out of your business… then put your money where your mouth is and turn down ALL federal funding.</p>
<p>Otherwise, if you want the money - ANY federal grant money - you’d better accept the strings that come with it. And in my opinion, requiring science classes to teach SCIENCE and not religion is a reasonable string.</p>
<p>(I have no problem with schools teaching ABOUT religions, but not in schools that teach any one religion as being factual. I am a practicing Christian, but I don’t want the government telling my kids what to believe about God - public schools can stick to Science, and English, and Math, and foreign language, etc. And their science class had better teach SCIENCE.)</p>
<p>If you are strongly opposed to the teaching of creationism in public schools, I’m sure that Americans United for Separation of Church and State would appreciate your donations towards the costs of their legal challenges:</p>
<p>[Americans</a> United: Science, Religion And Public Education: An Evolving Controversy](<a href=“http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8995&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=resources]Americans”>http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8995&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=resources)</p>
<p>If McCain wins and has the opportunity to put a few more conservative justices on the Supreme Court, then you can bet that teaching creationism will not be considered unconstitutional. Just read Scalia’s dissent in Edwards v Aguillard.</p>
<p>Don’t throw that Supreme Court nonsense out there. John McCain was one of the *Gang of 14 *who stood up to break gridlock and approach judicial appointments on a compromise basis.</p>
<p>[ad hominem comment edited out per TOS] McCain’s so called compromise got us Scalito.</p>
<p>The Democrats can’t really complain about Supreme Court justices as long as they continue nominating unelectable candiates like Dukakis, Kerry, and the like. When a party has only had one president in the last 28 years, it’s time to rethink the approach.</p>