Running a little late, yes, I know. But something did strike me from last class, I just didn't ever make the time to sit down and react to it as I'd like. Anyway.
I believe it was Brian who mentioned something about the teaching of creationism and evolutionary theories in classrooms. I'm not sure if he was saying this as an actual possible idea or simply to make a rather innocuous point, but as soon as he said this, I wanted to speak out. I thought better of it, however, when I realized the controversy that could stir and how deeply far off topic it could get us. Nonetheless, I go after the topic here.
I personally do not see how it is okay to teach students evolution and yet completely ignore the idea of creationism or even just the small hint of an idea that there is some greater power at work in the universe. Yes, I get it, most people who stand on the evolutionary pedestal cry out for evidence of the Biblical text and scream that their theories are more than simple theories, that they stand on the pillar of scientific fact and that those of us crazy enough to believe the Bible as fact are, well, crazy. But its ok for me to put that stuff into my children's heads at home, but not ok at school because, well, frankly, there's no science to back it up.
First of all, that's ludicrous. There's scientific evidence all over the place that confirms Biblical accounts. So if part of it can hold up scientifically, why wouldn't it be fair to at least admit that the rest of it could too? Also, you think I'm crazy, well, I think that these uber-intellectual, evolutionary theorists are wrong and I don't want my future kids exposed to this. So what would I be told? "Send your kids to a private school. Homeschool them." What if I can't afford it? I have the right to free, public education and should therefore have some right to say what I want my kids to learn. Now yes, I agree that just because they learn it in school does not mean I have to uphold it in my house, but what about those biology teachers who are so gung-ho about it, that they don't leave any room for theorizing and simply state evolution as fact?
All I'm asking for, I guess, is for the opportunity to teach all sides and then let parents and students discuss those two sides and decide together what they believe. And for teachers to leave their agendas at the front door.
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5 comments:
Surely years of religion, morals and beliefs practiced inside and outside of church cannot be eclipsed by one unit of biology. Creationism cannot be taught alongside of evolution because it is the basis of some, not all religions and we cannot force religious beliefs within a public school. In contrast, evolution falls under the category of science, which is universal and a separate entity from religion.
I agree with Liz, though I see why Christians are upset with the current trend of teaching evolution. But, we have to remember that it's not only Christians who disagree with evolution. Muslims, Hindus, Taoists, Jews, and everyone else disagree as well. Though we are staunchly Christian here in the Bible belt, we must yield to other faiths by not teaching Creationism. Evolution is not a religion, it's a theory. Though it may contradict religious teaching, it should still be taught. Much of scientific/biological research is based on it, and you need an understanding of it in order to be culturally literate. Whether you believe it or not is another topic.
Yeah, it was me who mentioned that last class. And I, too, realized that the direction I was going in could start a completely off-topic discussion and I shut up sort of quickly about it. But I guess the point I was trying to make was this:
It seems unreasonable to approach the subject of creationism in a substantial way in a school science class. Sure, creationism is a theory (just like evolution), but it evidence behind it is much more grounded in history and faith than it is actual science. Perhaps creationism has its place in school, I'm just not sure that place is a science classroom.
Also, as Liz and George point out, there are a LOT of religions, and each one has its own version of a creation theory. If you teach one, aren't you pretty much required to give equal air-time to all of them? It's probably enough to fill a class of its own!
There's also the issue of the particular usage of the term "theory". In science, the term is a lot narrower and restricted than it is in common parlance.
I see what you folks are getting at, but at the same time I can't help but see the "we cannot force religious beliefs within a public school" argument as a cop out. Because as far as I'm concerned, the evolutionary theory is being forced into my line of thinking because it is being taught in school. We do want our students to trust what we tell them, right? It is my viewpoint that one of our major jobs is to present the facts, and if we choose to present theories, then many angles should be given in doing so. To avoid the idea of intelligent design simply because it would take up too much time seems a little lazy to me. And who's to say all these scientists are right anyway? And why can't we just remove the religious element from creationism, call it a theory and at least present it as an option. To present evolution as the one and ONLY, factual basis for human existence is wrong and, more to the point, more alienating than suggesting that there might be other ideas to how the world came about.
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