A waste of a brilliant young girl's mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a Baptist, I can tell you that we're not anti-science. The evolution/creation debate does get touchy, but personally (not speaking for Baptists as a whole), I think the two theoeies can complement each other. Moreover, while that certainly is an important issue in science, it's not the only one. Moreover, going through public school, I don't remember being taught about evolution until middle school.

I can tell you that the science education my kids had in Montgomery County Public Schools (which I'm constantly hearing is "one of the best school systems in the nation") on the elementary level was so abysmal that the school ran a very popular after school program (Hands-On Science) because many of us wanted better instruction for our kids. I remember there being units on balls and ramps, plants, and butterflies. I don't recall (maybe I missed it) my kids being taught about evolution in elementary. Moreover, I felt that the History and Geography (also Spelling, Grammar, Handwriting, and Mathematics) instruction was weak too. Basically, MCPS seems to minimize teaching content. They're so focused on teaching kids "how to think", that they don't give the kids things to think about or the necessary technical skills they need as a good foundation. They went on to magnet STEM programs at TPMS and Blair, where they did eventually learn about evolution.

I can assure you that Baptists don't consider balls and ramps, plants, or butterflies to be witchcraft. Without knowing more about the curriculum of the private and public schools in question, it's impossible to know for sure, but I suspect the private school science curriculum will be roughly equivalent to the one at her neighborhood elementary and may even surpass it. Moreover, when the science teachers are Baptist, it may legitimize the subject for the mother and undercut her objections, opening up more science opportunities for the daughter, than if the mother considered her teachers to be adversaries.

As for the future, again, there's not enough information. I agree that to be well informed she needs to be familiar with the theory of evolution. But again, there's a lot more to science than that one theory. What science classes are offered at the various schools? What about lab facilities? Class sizes? Etc. In college, which is so far down the road, a lot change, there's no telling what she'll do. Maybe she'll do her dissertation on evolution, or maybe she'll study fiber optics, nuclear physics, astronomy, etc. Maybe she'll be like most Americans and not major in Science. The world needs really great historians, poets, economists, diplomats, etc., too.

Was this 20 years ago?

[Anonymous]

I survived baptist school. My AP Biology teacher let us dissect animals, taught us about science, evolution, etc. the curriculum just incorporated some talks around "this is what other people believe". Going to private school meant I had more one on one time with teachers and counselors. I graduated with a 3.6 and a free ride to college. I have no student loans and am now in the C suite of my company.

My favorite lessons in Baptist school were the ones teaching us to be kind Christians and not judge our neighbors.

Want to join me at church in an hour?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I survived baptist school. My AP Biology teacher let us dissect animals, taught us about science, evolution, etc. the curriculum just incorporated some talks around "this is what other people believe". Going to private school meant I had more one on one time with teachers and counselors. I graduated with a 3.6 and a free ride to college. I have no student loans and am now in the C suite of my company.

My favorite lessons in Baptist school were the ones teaching us to be kind Christians and not judge our neighbors.

Want to join me at church in an hour?

Perfect!

[Anonymous]

Does anyone else here thing OP's real concern is that ANYONE would opt out of her "well regarded" public elementary? She's not really worried that this little girl is headed to Baptist school, just super defensive that anyone would look at (invariably W school feeder) elementary and decide it wasn't good enough.

[Anonymous]

My nephew was briefly enrolled in a Southern Baptist private school, where he learned to sing this little gem-

I’m no kin to the monkey,
And the monkey’s no kin to me.
I don’t know much about your ancestry,
But mine didn’t swing from a tree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew was briefly enrolled in a Southern Baptist private school, where he learned to sing this little gem-

I’m no kin to the monkey,
And the monkey’s no kin to me.
I don’t know much about your ancestry,
But mine didn’t swing from a tree!

Baptist and Southern Baptist aren't the same religion.

My cousin's kids go to a Baptist school that has produced students who went on to top STEM high schools.

[Anonymous]

Baptist school doesn't scare me.

This girl's mom, if the op reported accurately, does sound a bit wacky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Baptist, I can tell you that we're not anti-science. The evolution/creation debate does get touchy, but personally (not speaking for Baptists as a whole), I think the two theoeies can complement each other. Moreover, while that certainly is an important issue in science, it's not the only one. Moreover, going through public school, I don't remember being taught about evolution until middle school.

I can tell you that the science education my kids had in Montgomery County Public Schools (which I'm constantly hearing is "one of the best school systems in the nation") on the elementary level was so abysmal that the school ran a very popular after school program (Hands-On Science) because many of us wanted better instruction for our kids. I remember there being units on balls and ramps, plants, and butterflies. I don't recall (maybe I missed it) my kids being taught about evolution in elementary. Moreover, I felt that the History and Geography (also Spelling, Grammar, Handwriting, and Mathematics) instruction was weak too. Basically, MCPS seems to minimize teaching content. They're so focused on teaching kids "how to think", that they don't give the kids things to think about or the necessary technical skills they need as a good foundation. They went on to magnet STEM programs at TPMS and Blair, where they did eventually learn about evolution.

I can assure you that Baptists don't consider balls and ramps, plants, or butterflies to be witchcraft. Without knowing more about the curriculum of the private and public schools in question, it's impossible to know for sure, but I suspect the private school science curriculum will be roughly equivalent to the one at her neighborhood elementary and may even surpass it. Moreover, when the science teachers are Baptist, it may legitimize the subject for the mother and undercut her objections, opening up more science opportunities for the daughter, than if the mother considered her teachers to be adversaries.

As for the future, again, there's not enough information. I agree that to be well informed she needs to be familiar with the theory of evolution. But again, there's a lot more to science than that one theory. What science classes are offered at the various schools? What about lab facilities? Class sizes? Etc. In college, which is so far down the road, a lot change, there's no telling what she'll do. Maybe she'll do her dissertation on evolution, or maybe she'll study fiber optics, nuclear physics, astronomy, etc. Maybe she'll be like most Americans and not major in Science. The world needs really great historians, poets, economists, diplomats, etc., too.

Was this 20 years ago?

One of my kids is in college, the other is still at Blair.

[Anonymous]

I call "troll". Sounds like someone decided to demonize a religious neighbor. "Witchcraft"? I seriously do not believe they had this conversation.

[Anonymous]

It is a tragedy when children are forced to learn primitive superstitions in place of useful facts.Religion, particularly the American evangelical variety, is a blight on society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else here thing OP's real concern is that ANYONE would opt out of her "well regarded" public elementary? She's not really worried that this little girl is headed to Baptist school, just super defensive that anyone would look at (invariably W school feeder) elementary and decide it wasn't good enough.

W feeders have their problems. For starters, they're segregated at this point in time.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it sad, the roadblocks parents put up in front of their children?

But I don't think you need to worry in this case. If the child is smart and inquisitive, there is no way she will be caged and trained to believe in non-facts. She will suffer, but will become more resilient.

When I was in grad school in my genetics lab, we had the loveliest and smartest undergrad intern work for us, and she described her abusive and deeply narrow-minded parents (who happened to be religious). She did not subscribe to their views, and was being punished at home for it. There wasn't much we could do, except support her psychologically and morally.

[Anonymous]

The fact that you "can't support this" means nothing because it ain't anything you get to support.

[Anonymous]

One of the best engineers I ever worked with was a practicing southern baptist who didn't believe in evolution
I'm not sure exactly how she managed to compartmentalize the evolution issue from everything else, but she was a rock-solid technical engineer and I'd trust her on my team any time.
So maybe just MYOB.

[Anonymous]

That is tragic and tantamount to child abuse. Horrible.