Focus on the facts
In a public school representing 1,719 students, opposing opinions are bound to appear. With students holding different beliefs, the separation of church and state is vital in order to remain neutral to the opinions of these students.
Many questions have arisen in public schools about how to teach the origin of life. The most neutral way to approach this would, of course, be to teach evolution, which explains the development of mankind through systematic, well-tested explanations. However, not everyone is satisfied with this explanation. Some wish to be taught creationism, which is the belief that humanity is the creation of a supernatural being.
Creationism, most often associated with the Christian religion, would not connect with all students in a public school. If the Christian ideas of how man came to be were taught in science classes, it would only be fair to also address every faith or belief every student holds.
There are two reasons biological evolution is mandated in science education standards. The first: science education standards stress learning to understand the process of science and scientific inquiry, which evolution helps with. The second is the theory of evolution underlies all the life sciences, and has formed the basis of research for over 140 years and continues to do so.
There are key anatomical features of humans that show evidence of evolution. Discovery Health, an online health resource, states wisdom teeth, which are generally removed in one’s youth, used to be a key aspect for the prehistoric man’s survival. With a diet consisting of mainly raw meat and various plants, having 32 teeth was a helpful and necessary component of the human anatomy.
Similar to wisdom teeth, there are several features of the human body today that raise doubts about creationism. Since we evolved, we have aspects we once needed but no longer do, such as the hair on our bodies. Previously needed to keep our bodies warm, hair is now an unnecessary aspect for the modern human.
The first hominid skeleton, believed to have lived 3.2 million years ago, was found by Professor Donald Johanson in 1974. This skeleton, nicknamed Lucy, changed the way everyone viewed our path to existence. She was found to have several chimpanzee characteristics, such as a small brain and long arms. Unlike other chimpanzees, however, Lucy walked upright on two legs just like humans. Her skeleton is more evidence of evolution.
Granted, not all the questions of evolution have been answered. This theory is constantly developing, gaining new knowledge and being perfected along the way. Although ideas are constantly changing, the facts of science never will.
Sitting in Biology class, my peers and I tend to hold back when it comes to discussing evolution. Though teachers suggest possibilities of human origins, it seems only evolution is taught and tested. It appears the study of evolution is so imprinted in the curriculum, teachers will not address any other theories. Creationism is a valid possibility explaining the origin of life, and while we should continue educating students on the theory of evolution, it is essential we expand our curriculum and give just as much time to the study of creationism.
With evolution as a part of the curriculum, it is only fair to address creationism. Evolutionism and creationism need to be accepted as two possible theories and nothing more. Both rest on faith in the unobservable. Creationism may be a literal faith-system, but evolution is a belief as well. Note that it’s called the “theory” of evolution. This means it is as unproven as the idea of creationism. Both imply how life originated. We will always be able to search for evidence in any theory, but closing out one viable option because of the G-word (God), shows ignorance to other ideas in the high school curriculum.
Furthermore, evolution’s facts are as inconclusive as those of creationism. The skull of Lucy, the hominid figure discovered to conclude the linking of apes and humans, was so incomplete no definite conclusion could be drawn relating the exact species according to Richard Leakey, director of National Museums of Kenya. Neither idea can be fully proven, and since they are both theories, teaching only one belief system is unfair.
It is imperative students are allowed to be exposed to every theory of origin. That is the essence of education; it allows students the opportunity to learn, discuss, question, evaluate and form their own opinions. Public school systems cannot be considered “free learning centers” when the widespread curriculum shuts the doors to everything but one viewpoint. And who is to say one group of administrators knows what is best for more than 1,700 students? Teach all ideas. Discuss all ideas. And let the theories fall where they may.
Zach Brand • Feb 23, 2012 at 11:44 pm
The theory of evolution is the only theory taught because it is the only theory that is scientifically proven. Creationism is a completely unfounded theory based on sheer speculation. To endorse its teaching would undermine the integrity of the educational system.