What should we be teaching?

Question

In a biology classroom setting, what should we be teaching, evolution or creationism? I have my opinion, but what are all of yours? Explain well, please!!

Answer 1

The place to teach evolution is in the classroom. The place to teach creationism is in church. Simple, yes?

Answer 2

If you are a teacher then you should provide an unbiased opinion and provide the FACTS. As theory's go both have a valid standpoint.
IMHO evolution is the more credible theory, however creationism cannot be discredited until it can be prooven there is or is not a creator.
Teachers should teach what they know and leave religion out of the classroom.
53% of human dna matches a cabbage, does this mean we evolved from cabbages? does this mean that a creator was cutting corners and using most of the same template for everything?
I don't know.
No-one does.
Provide the facts, Provide the theories, and let people make up thier own minds.

Answer 3

"Evolution is established science, which means that it can make predictions which workers in the field rely on for useful answers."

I have to disagree with this reasoning as a scientist. I don't disagree with the conclusion, just some of the reasoning.

The theory of evolution cannot make predictions and thus is not really a theory at all, just a very good explanation based on available evidence. There is no physical evidence for creationism so it can be discounted. You can make some predictions based on natural selection where one group may outperform another based on environmental or other conditions. However the process of evolving another species is primarily due to genetic mutations which by its very nature is a stochastic process and therefore cannot be predicted. However I must admit I am a physical scientists and have no biological training. But the theory (or so it is called) does not stand up to the definition of theory as does something like quantum theory or relativity.

Answer 4

Evolution. It is scientific fact. Creationism can also be given "honorable mention" as a belief but not a proven theory. One additional comment for some of you out there: creationism is NOT AN EXCLUSIVE CHRISTIAN IDEA! Creation stories exist in most, if not all, religions and cultures. Please stop the religious bigotry against Christianity. If creationism is discussed in schools it should be discussed in a broad context of many creation theories, not just the Christian one therefore promoting no one religion over the other.

Answer 5

Evolution. Not because of its lack of ties to religion, but because it works. Evolution is established science, which means that it can make predictions which workers in the field rely on for useful answers. It could reasonably be accepted for this reason alone, even if there were not overwheming evidence that it is correct. (Which, of course, there is.)

Creationism should not be taught. Not because of its religious influence, but because it is not a scientific theory. The distinguishing mark of a scientific theory is that it is refutable. It can be proved that the predictive power of any theory obtains strictly from its refutability, and since any theory proposing divine intervention is in principle irrefutable -- you can't demonstrate that it did not happen -- no such theory has any predictive value.

Answer 6

I have to go with sharon redux on this one. In the classroom too many things are taught that are NEVER used in life. Both of these ideals cause too many controversial in the school system. We cant teach our creationism (which is fine by me...I'll learn it in church)...but I dont want the idiotic ideal of evolution shoved down my throat. Students NEED to learn basic skills they will need to survive in the real world- not only in high school, but in elementary schools as well.

Answer 7

Evolution in normal public schools. There are alternatives offered to christian parents who want their kids taught the creation theory. Plus they have sunday school at most churches.

Answer 8

evolution because it is the only credible theory without ties to religion. Public schools and govt.-funded, and the government recongnizes no national religion, whether it regognizes a God or Buddha or whatever, so they can't teach anything from a religious standpoint.

Answer 9

I say throw all that sh4t out. You need to teach kids how to make money when they get out of school. Whether they go to college or not, they need to learn the basics, such as how credit affect their ability to do ANYTHING. They can read up on their own later in life, about monkeys or GOD, is it really that important?