Physics, Science, and Controversial Issues: What this Blog is About

Hi Students.

As you know I enjoy teaching Physics and AP Physics at Chattahoochee High School, and that I have put many classroom resources on my webpage:
http://www2.fultonschools.org/teacher/weaverc
There you can find details about the Physics Help Center, exam dates, assignments, homework solutions, weblinks to practice exams and tutorials, and more. The course syllabus can be viewed at my website.

As you also know, I am available to provide you with extra help in physics, and I want to assist you in your math and physics endeavors. I can be found after school most days, and I read and respond to student emails frequently. You can email me at weaverc@fultonschools.org

This blog site is for students. You can discuss anything related to physics (concepts, problems, Web Assign, etc.). This blog site is also available for you to discuss any issue related to science. I will monitor what you post.

As you know there are many controversial issues in science: darwinism, intelligent design, global warming, and stem-cell research, to name a few. As an educator, I feel it is important for debate over these issues to be allowed, rather than suppressed. You can use this blog site to debate your teacher and your classmates on these issues.

To get the discussion started, go visit the website for a soon-to-be-released movie by Ben Stein that is sure to create controversy and debate about intelligent design and darwinism:
http://www.expelledthemovie.com/
This movie will be released in February 2008. To get an idea what it is about here is a quote from the website:
“Big Science Academy” is proud to have the support of the “Mainstream Press” in stifling the rise of freedom of speech in our science classrooms. In so many ways, “Big Science” and “Big Media” are on exactly the same page, when it comes to making sure that dissenters and troublemakers are properly expelled.

Post your opinion on the issue.

It is appropriate for you (and your parents) to know your physics teacher's position on this issue: I am skeptical of the claims of modern evolutionary biologists. In particular I do not find their argument that the vast complexity of life at the biochemical level arose due to darwinistic gradualism alone to be very convincing.

I am also skeptical of the views of young-earth creationists who not only oppose Darwin and evolution but also reject what physics and chemistry has shown about the age of the Earth. There is much convincing empirical evidence that Earth is around 4.5 billion years old, yet these creationists continue to uphold the view that Earth is only about 6,000 years old.

So I am skeptical of much. What do I believe? I believe that God created the heavens, the earth and every living creature. I believe that details about origins are interesting and debatable, and that investigating the evidence for both sides of these issues to be worthwhile.

Let's discuss!

Mr. Weaver