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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:37 am
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I am going through the process of becoming a tutor with a specific company (for privacy reasons, I will not disclose identifying information about this company). While reading the policy manual, I came across more than one section dealing with religion/politics, including specific mention of creationism vs evolution. I had halfway expected a tutoring company to promote understanding of evolution as scientific fact, as it is the backbone of modern biology. To my chagrin, their policy states that tutors are not allowed to encourage students in one direction or another re: evolution, and are instead expected, if the subject arises, to present an unbiased explanation of both creationism and evolution and then allow the students to decide what they think.
Now, this is all well and good in reference to creationism. I certainly don't believe it, but it's definitely not my place to tell someone else not to believe in it. However, I am left wondering how, for the love of sky fairies, I am supposed to present evolution as if it's only a "possibility" when I know with certainty that modern biology rests upon it? When I know that it's well-researched, well-documented, observable, and as factual as cell theory or gravitational theory? I think that, as an educational institution charged with providing quality information to its students, it is the responsibility of tutoring companies not to pander to the religious in such ways. I am more than a little disgusted by the knowledge that I must pander to them as well or risk losing my job. For this reason, I think it might be a good idea for me to stick to lower sciences (of elementary level), as they are less likely to contain mention of evolutionary theory than middle or high school sciences. Unfortunately, it seems I will have to steer far clear of biology, which is my favourite science.
What are everyone else's experiences with these sorts of things?
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 1:27 pm
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:05 pm
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:17 pm
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:16 pm
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:17 pm
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Daffodil the Destroyer Augusten Well considering they probably don't want to deal with the stuff involved with promoting the idea of evolution, I can understand why that company wouldn't allow it. It's not difficult to swallow a little humility once in a while for the sake of not starting a giant stormy crap cloud kicked up by the fundamentalist folk who (for whatever reason) chose to take that particular science course in the first place. Um... "swallow a little humility?" What? XD It seems like you're implying that it's arrogant to teach science to religious folk. I don't think humility enters the equation here - there's no controversy in evolution except that which the religious right creates. I think that it should be a priority to make people realise that evolution is just as factual as cell theory or gravitational theory. By laying down and allowing them to push around school systems and biology teachers, nobody is doing them any favours and they're just perpetuating their ridiculous ignorance of the world.
I'm implying that I don't quite understand why you have to completely stick clear of tutoring the biology classes. All the guide lines are asking if that you add no bias into your teaching. id est; Don't shake the kid by the shoulders and tell him what he believes is stupid.
The whole point of tutoring is to make sure the student understands what is going on his class. So if the class is teaching evolution, you explain that in a way that they understand. Unfortunately, it's not in your job description to tell someone what to believe. It's to reinforce what has already been said.
I'm not saying I don't support the idea of teaching someone what has been proven. If you were hired as a teacher, and told to teach the kids the facts of life, have at it. But I just don't think it's difficult to just avoid the controversy. :/
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:25 pm
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:30 pm
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