To the Editor:

I was surprised to read that scientists are panicked that groups are advocating that public schools teach and discuss the strengths and weakness behind the theory of evolution.

Quite frankly, I thought this is what scientists were supposed to do, and I thought this is what we want our youth to do during the educational process.

Our body of scientific knowledge grows because scientists continue to explore, examine and research the weaknesses and strengths of all scientific theories. This was Albert Einstein’s brilliance, questioning and probing the prevailing beliefs of theoretical physics to prove them correct or to correct their errors.

Any scientist who is afraid of an honest, open discussion and exploration of the weaknesses and strengths on any scientific theory is not a good scientist and should be barred from academic research.

Unfortunately, we are living in an era where the scientific community is not open to allowing individuals to question the prevailing theories of evolution. We will all lose if this attitude prevails.

Linn Howard
Pittsburgh, June 4, 2008

Note from KBJ: It’s mind-boggling how insecure scientists are. They could and should view this as a wonderful teaching moment. They can teach students the criteria that distinguish science from other human activities, institutions, and practices. They can teach students what a theory is, both in general and within science. They can teach students the criteria that distinguish good scientific theories from bad or indifferent scientific theories. Having done all this, they can make a case for the superiority of Darwinian natural selection to Design Theory. Let the students hear all this and decide for themselves. What are the scientists afraid of?