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Jennine;

It is not a free speech issue. There is no imperative that says NEA
must give AIG a forum. AIG is an overtly religious group that has a
very, very strong anti-science and anti-humanistic perspective. I
find it incredible that NEA supports this kind of presentation as a
representation of their statement of Vision, Mission, and Values
(http://www.nea.org/handbook/images/vision.pdf).

The AIG believes and professes vigorously, and at great expense, that
the Earth is 6.000 years old and that the creation of the Earth-and
all life-is as described in the new testament of the Bible  (their
website http://www.answersingenesis.org/), numerous publications and
their museum (http://www.creationmuseum.org/ )as well as proclaiming
that the roots of many of the "evils" of modern society can be traced
to an acceptance of evolution. Courts have ruled several times, that
creationism is religion and cannot be taught in public schools. In
addition, it violates all tenets of a scientific, testable view of
the natural world.

I cannot understand why an educational association would promote (and
allowing them space is a form of promotion) such a divisive and
un-educational message.  Any teacher who follows AIG's arguments
would be misleading their students and could bring enormous and
expensive troubles to the schools. Evidently AIG is taking a survey
of teachers beliefs and understanding of evolution and creationism (a
requisite of a raffle for $100). It would be illuminating to see the
results of this survey though it is a self selecting group.


I think you misunderstand our brief conversation.  I am not only
protesting but I am truly astounded that the National Education
Association would condone such a world view that is at odds with its
Vision, Mission, and Values. It is very discouraging.

The blog from AIG at NEA is at http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/nea-2007


Martin Weiss

At 9:19 AM -0400 7/4/07, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>I don't see why it is the role of the science museum community to protest  to
>the NEA about the content of an exhibit at their convention. Exhibits at
>education conventions often uphold beliefs that are one sided. For example,
>mining consortiums often exhibit at science education conventions about the
>benefits of strip mining and how little environmental impact these
>activities  have
>on the environment. As someone with a degree in Environmental Studies, I
>know their information omits evidence on the other side of the
>issue. I have the
>choice of entering the booth or not. I often do pick up their materials
>because  they have good materials on geology and it keeps me up to
>date on  the
>current arguments they are using to support what I perceive as
>environmentally
>destructive activities.
>
>Michael Crichton recently wrote a book called "State of Fear" in which he
>attacks the notion of global warning. Do we go after book sellers
>because they
>sell the book? Should we examine the list of exhibitors at the NEA conference
>to  make certain that there isn't one run by the scientists that do not
>support  global warning?
>
>I believe that the people in attendance at the NEA conference are just as
>knowledgeable and informed as we are. I'm sure that the NEA
>conference also has
>many booths that support evolution. Some of the people who enter the AiG
>booth may be influenced by the religious stand. Others may be gathering
>information to use against creationism. Some people may need to pick
>up the info  becau
>se their state currently requires the teaching of creationism along with
>evolution.
>
>This strikes me as a free speech issue. The audience is comprised of
>knowledgeable adults. Let them decide for themselves.
>
>Jeannine Finton
>Education Consultant
>


--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D

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