Western Courier

Issue date: 1/21/05 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Ashley Hauk

High schools and universities traditionally are bastions for political debate and discourse, which is typically welcomed and encouraged. However, one place that there should be no room for such debate is in the science classroom.

Last week a federal judge ruled the Cobb County school board in Georgia had to remove stickers placed on high school biology textbooks saying, "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

The disclaimer was not misleading - evolution is a theory and is stated as such in most textbooks. It has not been proven as a scientific law, like gravity, which would make it a generally accepted fact.

When taught properly in the classroom, students should have evolution presented to them as the best possible explanation of the origins of mankind, according to scientific study. However, to restate in big bold letters on the book that evolution is "just a theory" removes credence from the teaching, and raises undo doubt. Especially warning students to "critically consider" this information casts a shadow of inquiry over an otherwise reasonable theory.

The reason the disclaimer was used in the conservative Georgia county in the first place was a concession to religious-minded officials who fear teaching evolution would undermine Christian values of the community. This belief was strongly opposed by Kenneth Miller, Brown University professor, and author of three high school textbooks.

"What it tells students is that we're certain of everything else in this book except evolution," Miller said, according to CNN.com.

Some parents in the school district, who have appealed the ruling, are taking a faith versus science stance on the matter.

In truth, there is no reason Christian values cannot coexist with the teaching of scientific theory in schools. People of faith need to stop treating creationism as being at odds with their beliefs; evolution has been a popular theory for over a hundred years, and will continue to be a part of the scientific community. Their children deserve, and have finally been granted an opportunity to be, taught evolution without an inherent bias being placed against it.

The larger issue is the use of students' textbooks as a means of projecting a certain political agenda. Other school districts across the country still have similar disclaimers, and others continue to teach creationism alongside evolution. This practice stands in direct contrast to separation of church and state.

When lawmakers allow for faith-based biases to slip into public school curriculums they are failing as secular governing bodies. Though we expect our local government leaders to be moral, we also have a right to expect them to not legislate their religious beliefs on the masses.

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