[Taxacom] evolution education

[Richard Jensen]

I think the *basic* principles, as proposed by Darwin, are relatively 
easy to grasp.  But, what we have learned over the past 150 years is 
that, just as with Mendelian genetics, developing a *real* understanding 
of these principles and how they work is far more demanding.  This is 
one reason why evolution is challenging to teach and why so many feel 
that it is easy to discredit evolution.  After all, if you only need to 
know the textbook principles, then how hard can it be?

Dick J

On 2/3/2011 9:31 AM, John Grehan wrote:
> So what, in your view, are the principles of evolution and what is so
> hard about them to teach and what is so difficult about the concept
> compared to other science concepts?
>
> John Grehan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fautin at ku.edu [mailto:fautin at ku.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 9:27 AM
> To: John Grehan
> Cc: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] evolution education
>
> Of course it is -- we all do.  The puzzlement to us -- at least speaking
>
> for those with whom I have discussed this extensively -- is those who
> love
> nature yet deny evolution.
>
>
> Daphne G. Fautin
> Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
> Curator, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center
> Haworth Hall
> University of Kansas
> 1200 Sunnyside Avenue
> Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7534  USA
>
> telephone 1-785-864-3062
> fax 1-785-864-5321
> evo user name fautin
> website www.nhm.ku.edu/~inverts
>
>         direct to database of hexacorals, including sea anemones
>                 newest version released 22 December 2010
>           ***http://hercules.kgs.ku.edu/Hexacoral/Anemone2***
>
>
> On Thu, 3 Feb 2011, John Grehan wrote:
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
>> [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of fautin at ku.edu
>> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] evolution education
>>
>> "And a final reason teachers skipped (and still skip) that last
>> chapter and do not put everything in an evolutionary context is that
>> they
>> themselves are uncertain about the principles of evolution (as I like
> to
>> say, it's not rocket science -- it's harder!!;"
>>
>> It is?
>>
>>
>> "evolution is a difficult
>> concept to understand at a level that allows one to teach it
>> effectively),"
>>
>> Really?
>>
>> "having had a deficient scientific education, which they blithely pass
>> on.
>> It is certainly possible to love nature and deny evolution."
>>
>> And it's also possible to love nature and accept evolution.
>>
>> John Grehan
>>
>>
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-- 
Richard J. Jensen, Professor
Department of Biology
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Tel: 574-284-4674