Thursday, June 28, 2007
Academic Freedom for Me, But Not for Thee
Via Bruce Shortt
Just a reminder about how thoroughly even colleges and universities in the heartland have been captured by the anti-Christian left:
An astronomer at Iowa State University, Professor Gonzalez was recently denied tenure—despite his stellar academic record—and it is increasingly clear he was rejected for one reason: He wrote a book entitled The Privileged Planet which showed that there is evidence for design in the universe....
Dr. Gonzalez, who fled from Cuba to America as a child, earned his PhD in astronomy from the University of Washington. By academic standards, Dr. Gonzalez has had a remarkable career. Though still a young man, he has already authored sixty-eight peer-reviewed scientific papers. These papers have been featured in some of the world's most respected scientific journals, including Science and Nature. Dr. Gonzalez has also co-authored a college-level text book entitled Observational Astronomy, which was published by Cambridge Press.
According to the written requirements for tenure at the Iowa State University, a prospective candidate is required to have published at least fifteen peer-reviewed scientific papers. With sixty-eight papers to his name, Dr. Gonzalez has already exceeded that requirement by 350%. Ninety-one percent of professors who applied for tenure at Iowa State University this year were successful, implying that there has to be something seriously wrong with a candidate before they are rejected.
What's wrong with Dr. Gonzalez? So far as anyone can tell, this rejection had little to do with his scientific research, and everything to do with the fact that Dr. Gonzalez believes the scientific evidence points to the idea of an intelligent designer. In fact, as World Magazine has reported, at least two scientists in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the Iowa State University have admitted that intelligent design played a role in their decision. This despite the fact that Dr. Gonzalez does not teach intelligent design in any of his classes, and that none of his peer-reviewed papers deal with the subject. Nevertheless, simply because Gonzalez holds the view that there is intelligence behind the universe, and has written a book presenting scientific evidence for this fact, he is considered unsuitable at Iowa State.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/KenConnor/2007/05/27/academias_assault_on_intelligent_design
Just a reminder about how thoroughly even colleges and universities in the heartland have been captured by the anti-Christian left:
An astronomer at Iowa State University, Professor Gonzalez was recently denied tenure—despite his stellar academic record—and it is increasingly clear he was rejected for one reason: He wrote a book entitled The Privileged Planet which showed that there is evidence for design in the universe....
Dr. Gonzalez, who fled from Cuba to America as a child, earned his PhD in astronomy from the University of Washington. By academic standards, Dr. Gonzalez has had a remarkable career. Though still a young man, he has already authored sixty-eight peer-reviewed scientific papers. These papers have been featured in some of the world's most respected scientific journals, including Science and Nature. Dr. Gonzalez has also co-authored a college-level text book entitled Observational Astronomy, which was published by Cambridge Press.
According to the written requirements for tenure at the Iowa State University, a prospective candidate is required to have published at least fifteen peer-reviewed scientific papers. With sixty-eight papers to his name, Dr. Gonzalez has already exceeded that requirement by 350%. Ninety-one percent of professors who applied for tenure at Iowa State University this year were successful, implying that there has to be something seriously wrong with a candidate before they are rejected.
What's wrong with Dr. Gonzalez? So far as anyone can tell, this rejection had little to do with his scientific research, and everything to do with the fact that Dr. Gonzalez believes the scientific evidence points to the idea of an intelligent designer. In fact, as World Magazine has reported, at least two scientists in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the Iowa State University have admitted that intelligent design played a role in their decision. This despite the fact that Dr. Gonzalez does not teach intelligent design in any of his classes, and that none of his peer-reviewed papers deal with the subject. Nevertheless, simply because Gonzalez holds the view that there is intelligence behind the universe, and has written a book presenting scientific evidence for this fact, he is considered unsuitable at Iowa State.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/KenConnor/2007/05/27/academias_assault_on_intelligent_design
Getting out of the College Rat Race - Interview: Dr. James Bartlett
Kevin Swanson - Generations Radio, Colorado
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Higher Education and More Reading Linked to Nearsightedness
via Mercola.com
Researchers in Singapore have found that nearsightedness, or myopia, is more common among the highly educated and those on the academic fast track.
Educational level and academic achievement seem to be predictors of myopia. These factors could be closely related to reading and other "near-work" activities performed at a close distance.
Nearsightedness is on the rise in developed nations, particularly Asian countries. In the Singapore army, for example, the rate of myopia in new recruits has increased from 26% in the 1970s to 79% in the 1990s.
Although genetics are thought to be important in determining who becomes nearsighted, the rapid increase in myopia during the past century suggests that other factors besides heredity play a major role, the researchers point out. They suggest one possible explanation is that near-work activities, such as reading, increase the risk of myopia.
The investigators found that the odds of being nearsighted were increased nearly fourfold among soldiers who had been enrolled in gifted or accelerated programs in school. Having finished 2 years of pre-college courses also quadrupled the odds of nearsightedness. Likewise, the risk was more than doubled for soldiers who had participated in extra lessons after school.
The investigators believe that educational attainment can serve as a "marker" for a person's amount of near-work activities. Children enrolled in extra lessons after school, for instance, spend additional time reading, writing and completing homework assignments.
British Journal of Ophthalmology July 2001;85:855-860
Researchers in Singapore have found that nearsightedness, or myopia, is more common among the highly educated and those on the academic fast track.
Educational level and academic achievement seem to be predictors of myopia. These factors could be closely related to reading and other "near-work" activities performed at a close distance.
Nearsightedness is on the rise in developed nations, particularly Asian countries. In the Singapore army, for example, the rate of myopia in new recruits has increased from 26% in the 1970s to 79% in the 1990s.
Although genetics are thought to be important in determining who becomes nearsighted, the rapid increase in myopia during the past century suggests that other factors besides heredity play a major role, the researchers point out. They suggest one possible explanation is that near-work activities, such as reading, increase the risk of myopia.
The investigators found that the odds of being nearsighted were increased nearly fourfold among soldiers who had been enrolled in gifted or accelerated programs in school. Having finished 2 years of pre-college courses also quadrupled the odds of nearsightedness. Likewise, the risk was more than doubled for soldiers who had participated in extra lessons after school.
The investigators believe that educational attainment can serve as a "marker" for a person's amount of near-work activities. Children enrolled in extra lessons after school, for instance, spend additional time reading, writing and completing homework assignments.
British Journal of Ophthalmology July 2001;85:855-860
Dumbing Us Down through College
On the way home from the recent Iowa home school convention, my son Jonathan was reading to us from "The Creature From Jekyll Island," by G. Edward Griffen (1994, American Media). This book details the very interesting history of the Federal Reserve System, but the point which grabbed my attention was "the programmed decline of the American economy."
On page 110, Griffen introduces the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and its influence through our cultural and political leaders and the goal of building world government "for the greater good of all." The weakening of America is an essential step toward building world government, they figure. Richard Gardner, advisor to President Carter explained that
In short, the 'house of world order' will have to be built from the bottom up...An end run around national sovereignty, eroding it piece by piece, will accomplish much more that the old-fashioned frontal assault."
Griffen documents, "As for the programmed decline of the American economy, CFR member Samuel Huntington argues that, if higher education is considered desirable for the general population, then a program is then necessary to lower the job expectations of those who receive a college education." CFR member Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, says: "The standard of living of the average American has to decline...I don't think you can escape that."
Homeschoolers understand how the public school system has dumbed down America, but this tidbit is helpful to realize that this dumbing down is also happening at the college level, towards eroding national sovereignty such that the United States will better succumb to one world government domination.
Therefore, decentralizing college education to the family level to bring glory to God and His truth to the culture is an important contribution to keeping America free and returning its position of a light on a hill.
On page 110, Griffen introduces the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and its influence through our cultural and political leaders and the goal of building world government "for the greater good of all." The weakening of America is an essential step toward building world government, they figure. Richard Gardner, advisor to President Carter explained that
In short, the 'house of world order' will have to be built from the bottom up...An end run around national sovereignty, eroding it piece by piece, will accomplish much more that the old-fashioned frontal assault."
Griffen documents, "As for the programmed decline of the American economy, CFR member Samuel Huntington argues that, if higher education is considered desirable for the general population, then a program is then necessary to lower the job expectations of those who receive a college education." CFR member Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, says: "The standard of living of the average American has to decline...I don't think you can escape that."
Homeschoolers understand how the public school system has dumbed down America, but this tidbit is helpful to realize that this dumbing down is also happening at the college level, towards eroding national sovereignty such that the United States will better succumb to one world government domination.
Therefore, decentralizing college education to the family level to bring glory to God and His truth to the culture is an important contribution to keeping America free and returning its position of a light on a hill.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
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