SO SAD
The AP(!) dissects Christian/creationist biology textbooks written for the homeschool market. Jay Wile has a pretty ugly quote:
Coyne and Virginia Tech biology professor Duncan Porter reviewed excerpts from the Apologia and Bob Jones biology textbooks, which are equivalent to ninth- and 10th-grade biology lessons. Porter said he would give the books an F.
“If this is the way kids are home-schooled then they’re being shortchanged, both rationally and in terms of biology,” Coyne said. He argued that the books may steer students away from careers in biology or the study of the history of the earth.
Wile countered that Coyne “feels compelled to lie in order to prop up a failing hypothesis (evolution). We definitely do not lie to the students. We tell them the facts that people like Dr. Coyne would prefer to cover up.”
I taught a homeschool co-op chemistry class at our church in DE (Yes, I used to go. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away). They wanted me to use the Wile text. I reviewed it. Total piece of shit. Really very, very poor. Not surprising given how little respect he has for the way science works.
6 Responses to “SO SAD”
 Comment by Meg March 7th, 2010 at 11:30 am |
Okay, I only skimmed the article, so maybe I missed it, but beyond slamming the idiotic view these texts have about evolution (which we all know) I didn’t see anything new to the article. |
 Comment by JJ March 7th, 2010 at 11:34 am |
My beef is that it’s not “homeschool” but “Christian” that is the real market impact. Look at Texas . . . |
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Comment by Meg March 7th, 2010 at 1:47 pm |
Good point JJ. |
 Comment by carole March 7th, 2010 at 3:35 pm |
Wish you were still in DE cause I would sign my boys up for your science co-op class. They’re back to using Wile materials and since I know I can do better with something else I won’t put the ds into their co-op. Shame too how they are all in love with Wile. |
 Comment by aztecqueen2000 March 12th, 2010 at 3:21 pm |
Since I don’t want my kids learning either the old-earth or the young-earth view of “G-d just went ‘click!’ one day for whatever reason we can’t fathom, but believe because the Bible says so,” what do you recommend for science? It’s too bad Nebel’s doesn’t go through high school. |
 Comment by dcobranchi March 12th, 2010 at 3:27 pm |
Which science? Once you get past 8th grade, it starts to differentiate. |