The Imperfect Community

Anthromomma · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject: Um, what?

So, I'm a teaching assistant this semester for an archaelology class. It's a class for non-majors (it fulfills the diversity requirement), so I wasn't really expecting a high level of discourse or anything, but...

This week, we were talking about paleoarchaeology and the origins of man. Oh, the questions! The seventy-five people who can barely stay awake most of the time were suddenly alive with curiosity. My personal favorites:

"So, I was taught in high school that evolution was just a theory, and I don't have to believe in it if I didn't want to. Because if you believe in evolution, it means that God doesn't exist... right?"

"If we evolved from monkeys, then why are there still monkeys around? Wouldn't they have all turned into humans by now?" This person also asked to be excused from the first test because it was against her religion.

bandhead

College sophomores. Am I naive to have been surprised by this? Above and beyond everything else, this topic was included in the course description. If your sensibilities are so offended by a discussion of evolution, wouldn't you take a different class? WTF?

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:48 am Post subject:

Oh, man.

I don't have any advice for you other than you know...tread lightly.

When Mike was a T.A. while working on his PhD, he had to pass everyone. Any problems he had, he turned over to the professor he TA's under and that professor told him to "pass 'em". Because colleges were being sued left and right and professors had to defend their grades in court (which a busy professor doing research and whatnot just doesn't have time--or need for damage to their reputation).

So, you should probably just bring it up with the professor how to handle these things. Maybe she/he can help you (by looking over, I'm afraid you'll do the work) a general handout on the basics of evolution for those who haven't had it.

Maybe these kids chose this class because they figure they won't have to do any work or take tests because of their religion. That'd make it a very easy class, and in this culture of "no F's", well, there ya go.

Jessica · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:36 am Post subject:

I think the kids were effin' with you. Unless they really do believe what they're spewin', in which case they're still effin' with you because they took the class.

What a difficult situation. Indeed, college kids should know better.

I think Rita's advice was really good.

becky2005 · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject:

I am not surprised at all. I just graduated myself in 2005 after returning to school in my late 20s. During my junior and senior years I worked as a grader and tutor for the math department. I got to see lots of work on quizzes--most of it horrible, and assist many students in the math tutoring center. Initially I was shocked how unprepared most of the students were, but I soon came to realize that it was the norm. I don't know what is going on in high school nowadays but most high school grads are not prepared for college math. If the math education is slipping, I would expect science to be pretty bad too.

Do you think that there is too much emphasis placed on teaching so the kids pass standardized tests or preparing for college entrance exams so there is not enough time for teachers to really teach their subject?

Anthromomma · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:57 pm Post subject:

Well. The department apparently has a policy for incidents such as these. I met w/ my professor and the department chair on Friday, and I am supposed to close the door on any religious discussion whatsoever. I'm going to do a brief tutorial on the difference between 'just a theory' and scientific theory, and then I'm going to provide a handout on human evolution. The professor for whom I'm working is going to open up some office hours this week for anyone who has questions, since evolution itself is really outside the purview of this class. I had no intention of letting that girl be excused from the first exam (so I was relieved that the department was going to back me on that one) but I am giving her the option of dropping the class even though it's past the drop date, if it bothers her that much.

I'm just disheartened, really. Since I've returned to school I've been pretty insulated-- my department is small and fairly intensive, so I guess I've had a skewed perception of what the average student is like. Or maybe this class is just full of dumbasses, I don't know.

ExCareerGal · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:48 am Post subject:

Whoops double post!
Janna

ExCareerGal · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:49 am Post subject:

The creationist view is quite prevalent here in the South. I just finished reading "Finding Darwin's God" to help me to explain evolution to people who are still believing in creationism. It seemed difficult for me to believe that despite the preponderance of physical evidence in the fossil record, and the fact that we can see organisms evolving today (ie: antibiotic resistant bacteria) many still believe evolution is just a "theory". Plus there is no physical evidence to support creationism.But one of the local mommy's boards I am on definitely has a lot of members who reject evolution.
Janna

Scout · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:06 am Post subject:

Isn't it so hard not to just be like "Pull your head out of your ass already!" lol

Janna, I could not hang with that board because of all the Jesusy goodness.

julymom · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:56 am Post subject:

julymom · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:56 am Post subject:

Jessica · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:29 pm Post subject:

prescott · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject:

Jessica · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

mammaX3_MOD · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:07 pm Post subject:

I am not the type to push my religious beliefs down others' throats. However, I can't stand others pushing non-religious beliefs onto me. I don't like being labled "narrow minded" just because I don't support the evolution ideas. I think the girl in Anthromama's class was clearly disrespectful (and schemingly lazy) in asking for special privelages.

In HS, when the teacher started the evoultion session, I gritted my teeth, gave the answers I knew he wanted, and scored an A. But being of the "faith" category, I certainly would not elect and PAY to take an anthropology class at a University. Just as I hope an evolution supporter would not go to church and ask the preacher "Do I have to put money in the basket? Because I don't believe in any of this." Or better yet, it would be ridiculous for him/her to take a college theology class and then whine their way out of the curriculum.

julymom · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

Scott, LOL! Where have you been, BTW? It seems like you haven't posted in ages.