The Texas-Size Debate Over Teaching Evolution

And so the debates continue in one of the most controversial educational topics ever. In Texas last week, the state Board of Education denied the state science curriculum the right to require teachers to discuss the "strengths and weaknesses" of Darwin's evolution theory. The school board is instead allowing all sides of scientific theory to be taught, including intelligent design, with no extended focus on the topic of evolution. Some pro-Darwin teachers fear that students get exposure to religion at home, but will not get the proper information about evolution outside the school walls. In a nation that evolution is becoming part of the norm in science classes, teachers fear that their students will be uneducated on the topic when reaching higher education.

But what does this verdict actually mean? Instead of simply saying there is only a need for simply explanations of evolution, a topic these students know very little about, the Board of Education felt the need to vote evolution to be both questionable and debatable. With fears of a repeat of the Dover, PA case, in which a Republican judge ruled against the defenders of "Intelligent Design", and even went to the extent to call them frauds, the Texas Board of Education has kept the deliberations and rulings very quiet. Surprisingly, it wasn't the teachers who did the complaining. Many students spoke forward saying they want to learn the information and they don't want anything hidden from them. In my personal opinion, denying someone the education of evolution in science is like denying someone the right to learn geometry in math. There is clear evidence to its validity, and is a huge building block for any future education in the field. The manner of teaching cannot be forceful, every child should make up their own mind, but members of a Board of Education are outright saying that some of the most intelligent high-ranking scientists of the world base their work around a questionable topic, something I find outrageous.


-Alyssa Terestre (Week 7)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/191400/page/1



** Maura, I agree. It is really strange that we are supposed to be so separated, but the church has so much say in educational matters. We are not forced to teach ideas presented by some other religions of formation, and if we are, they are completely overlook due to the magnitude of the church's opinion. **