Reply #72: Are you sure she's not just trying to stimulate critical thought?

[slackmaster]

I had a 6th grade teacher who claimed not to believe in atoms and molecules. I'm very sure he was deliberately being "difficult" when he said things like "I think wood is wood and water is water no matter how small a sample you look at." And "Nobody has ever taken a picture of an atom, so how can people be so sure the exist?" (The year was 1968.)

Do we, however, want to base our entire educational system on the kind of free-range system in which a teacher is allowed to present a scientific theory adorned with her own beliefs?

Look at the (polar opposite to make my point) alternative - Do we want an educational system in which teachers only preach established doctrine and are not allowed to have or express their own opinions that challenge mainstream thought? As long as she consistently identifies her opinions as such, I don't see a problem here.

I don't believe in litmus tests. If she's teaching from reputable, properly reviewed sources and not trying to indoctrinate students in an eccentric belief system then she can believe in creationism and still be a good teacher.

Which flavor of creationism does she favor, BTW? I like the Romani version, where God baked three loaves of bread: The first one was underdone and that became white people. The second was overly browned and became black people. The third loaf came out just right - The Gypsies of course!