Talk:Public education

The term "Public schools"
Can we find another title for this article?

Firstly, the article is not about government-run schools, but about the teaching (or lack thereof) of evolution, creation, etc.

Secondly, and more importantly, the term is ambiguous to an international audience, because it is an American term. OneLook Dictionary Search lists the following two definitions of the term:

Philip J. Rayment 11:05, 7 March 2006 (GMT)
 * noun:  a tuition free school in the United States supported by taxes and controlled by a school board
 * noun:  private independent secondary school in Great Britain supported by endowment and tuition


 * what title would you suggest? would "public education" solve the problem?  Perhaps "Creation and evolution in public education?"  "Creation and evolution in education?"  "Creation and evolution in schools?"  Something else?  Ungtss 16:15, 7 March 2006 (GMT)
 * Religion and Public Education or Public Education and Religion? PrometheusX303 22:03, 7 March 2006 (GMT)


 * Although there is an introduction touching on religion in public education, the article is really about the teaching or not of creation and evolution, so I think a title that uses the term "religion", as per PrometheusX303's suggestions is too broad.
 * Of the titles suggested, I think I would go for "Creation and evolution in schools", or perhaps "...in education". I can foresee that the article could be expanded to cover more than government-run schools, so "public education" would be too narrow.  "Public education" by itself is too broad when the article is about the creation/evolution issue in schools.
 * Philip J. Rayment 09:58, 8 March 2006 (GMT)

The issue of teaching creation vs evolution in government-run schools is a big one. The history should be better fleshed-out, there are numerous court cases that should be listed and discussed, etc. I'm not sure the article should attempt to tackle any more than that specific topic.

We must also keep in mind that this is an encyclopedia about creation science. Therefore, every article within the CreationWiki is about the stated topic as it relates to creation science. That portion of the title is already implied by its presence in the encyclopedia. An article about "Creation Science and Public schools" should be titled as "Public schools".

I can see your point about the international ambiguity, and think the upfront definition clears that up, but I would still go for a more international name. I agree that "Public education" might be better if nothing else is suggested.

--Chris Ashcraft 15:08, 8 March 2006 (GMT)


 * Fair enough point about the reference to creation being redundant in the title. However, although I grant that teaching creation/evolution in the government-run education system is a big issue, also at issue is the lack of creation teaching in church-run schools and seminaries.  Unless we want to put this issue into a separate article, I was thinking that the title should allow for that.  Otherwise, Public education seems reasonable.  I also wondered about The Education System, but I think that "The" starting titles is not favoured, and Education system doesn't quite sound right.  Does anybody else have any good ideas?  Philip J. Rayment 10:11, 10 March 2006 (GMT)