Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Religion & Law Blogs -> Religion Clause

Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Times Features Science Teacher's Methods on Evolution

By Howard M. Friedman

Today's New York Times carries a fascinating front page article on how Florida science teacher David Campbell teaches evolution to a skeptical science class. He captures their attention by using Walt Disney's changes over time to the Mickey Mouse character. Showing the class the different versions of the cartoon character over the years, he tells them: "Mickey evolved. And Mickey gets cuter because Walt Disney makes more money that way. That is 'selection'." The article traces at length Campbell's intriguing teaching skills and his attempts to get his students to understand the difference between science and faith.

Founder of Florida Citizens for Science, Campbell strongly backed changes in Florida's science standards adopted earlier this year that specifically mention evolution. (See prior posting.) Defending against charges that the new standards do not include alternative explanations for life's diversity, Campbell replied: "We also failed to include astrology, alchemy and the concept of the moon being made of green cheese. Because those aren't science, either."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on August 24, 2008 (boomark / email).