“Strengths and weaknesses' are regular words that have now been drafted into the rhetorical arsenal of creationists.” Kathy Miller
In America, one fairly recent variation of the teach the controversy creationist strategy aimed at forcing creationism into science lessons, involves trying to pass legislation which would allow teachers the, “academic freedom” to teach the, “strengths and weaknesses” of the theory of evolution.
There are a couple of points to note about this language. Firstly, by learning about evolution, for example, how it offers an explanation for the observed fossil record, students already learn about the strengths of evolution. As they do this anyway, then the strengths in “strengths and weaknesses” is a superfluous term, added to camouflage the true intent of the changes. Even the dumb creationists have enough sense to realise that they cannot ban the teaching of evolution any longer, so it is no skin off their noses to call for the teaching of its strengths. Therefore, their true intent is try to expose students to so-called weaknesses of evolution.
Secondly, although there are many scientific controversies about how evolution occurs, there is absolutely no scientific controversy about whether it occurs, and it certainly isn't considered by scientists to be a theory riddled with weaknesses. Creationists, however, like to claim otherwise and seem to devote a lot of time to highlighting apparent problems. These are then shown to be in error by scientists.
Therefore, if scientists cannot find significant flaws in evolutionary theory and creationist criticisms are baseless, then there can be no rational justification in teaching such misguided weaknesses of evolution to children. Indeed they should not feature in any such teaching material. A teacher teaching evolution, has no more right to contaminate the lesson with their utterly irrelevant personal (creationist) opinions on evolution than they have of disrupting the teaching of any other subject with unsubstantiated or irrelevant personal views.
See Academic Freedom for more information.
Examples:
Avoid 'anti-science' tag in quest for future prosperity
State Sen. Bill Hardiman (R., Grand Rapids) and State Rep. John Moolenaar (R., Midland) have introduced so-called "academic freedom" legislation that would require teachers and students to explore the "strengths and weakness" of evolutionary theory. More
Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy
Now a battle looms in Texas over science textbooks that teach evolution, and the wrestle for control seizes on three words. None of them are “creationism” or “intelligent design” or even “creator.” The words are “strengths and weaknesses.” - More
Last fall, in the latest episode of that eternal Texas struggle, the Texas Education Agency, which is regulated by the SBOE, fired its science director for distributing information about a pro-evolution seminar. And now, the SBOE is beginning hearings on updated science curricula that teaches the "strengths and weaknesses" of evolutionary theory. - Full Article
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