Should Evolution Be Taught In Public Schools?

I personally think I would want my kids to learn about evolution… from someone who understands it and isn’t using their classroom as a soapbox from which to apologize.

1. Evolution is a theory and should be taught alongside other theories. Yes, evolution is a theory, but it’s a Scientific Theory which means something different than when you or I say “I have a theory.” A Scientific Theory is a hair away from being a fact, but since Scientists are quite precise in their language, a fact is something (in science) which must be mathematically verifiable. Evolution cannot be proved with math, but it has a huge wealth of support and is verified by the scientific process. If I said I had a theory that (for instance) the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world, it couldn’t be called a Scientific Theory because I am fairly certain it wouldn’t stand up to scientific inquiry nor work with other established scientific theory. In order for something to maintain its status as a Scientific Theory, it cannot be at odds with any other Scientific Theory or conclusive scientific evidence. Scientific Theory is not a “theory” in the way that most of us use the term in our day-to-day lives.

2. Evolution should be taught alongside other theories. Now that we have established that Evolution is a Scientific Theory (which is why it is taught in science classes), I think it’s a fair argument that Creation should not be taught alongside Evolution. Evolution is science and Creation is religion. Religious views don’t belong in a science class any more than floral arrangements do. Nor does evolution belong in your church (unless your church decides it does; whatever). If one has staunch religious views and feels like evolution is at odds with them, then one should be able to opt out of the unit like one can opt out of Sex Ed. The only theories that should be taught alongside Evolution are other Scientific Theories. 

Creationism is not science, nor is Intelligent Design. Believe whatever you want, but neither theory (with a small t) stands up to the Scientific Method.

3. Evolution should not be taught in schools because it is at odds with the many different beliefs and values which people in this country have. Don’t we learn about Hitler? In any case, the only reason I can see that evolution should not be taught in schools is that it’s not strictly practical. If one wanted to smush Evolution out of the curriculum, I would argue that it should be to make room for Nutrition or something else which is clearly needed in our schools. 

4. People should be able to make their own choices about what to believe. Yes, they should. But understanding something and believing something are very different. Our educational system clearly has decided that English, Math, Science, and History are necessary parts of a good education. Whether or not I believe that Trickle-Down Economics works is very different from my ability to understand what Trickle-Down Economics is. That said, if you want a class that discusses different belief sets about how our world came to be, you’d better be willing to devote your whole year to just that topic. In this country, we can’t place favoritism on Christianity’s creation story. Guys, there are a lot of religions in the world. A lot.

Evolution should be taught in schools if we want American children to have an advantage in an increasingly global world. If you want your kids to get religious values in school, send them to a religious school.

image from Married to the Sea