Why is the "theory of evolution" taught as fact in schools?

Question

Since evolution is only a theory with no proof whatsoever why is it the only acceptable explaination to our origins taught in schools. No wonder the young are aimless. They are taught that they are nothing more than pond scum.

Answer 1

The word "THEORY" is confusing you. It seems to have differing meanings and you are using the 'layman's' version believing that theory means just some unsubstantiated group of thoughts that try to explain something wilt the scientific meaning of the word is that of something that is just before a law in that it there is enough evidence that it can not be disproved.

There is plenty of evidence to the layman that some form of evolution exists.

From animal breeders to plant geneticists and beyond, from the over hyped avian flu to genetically modified foods the evidence of the basic idea of evolution and the interrelation of life abounds.

It is unfortunate that the religious right wing people who really do not care about religion at all but are just trying to boost their own agenda ( people like Pat Robertson sp? or Jerry Falwell sp? or Billy Gram sp? etcetera etcetera etcetera ad infinitum )

If these people would stick to what they claim to believe in and follow the teachings of who they claim to follow then this would be a non-issue but alas this is not the case and so we have these pointless arguments.

There is far to little science taught in US public schools and what Little is taught is obviously not enough for people to tell the difference between a scientific theory and just some layman's postulations.

It also seems to be too much science for those mentioned above with there own agenda.

As far as I am concerned the public school system in the USA is meant to dumb down the populace. They have remove trade classes and such and the college prep classes are woefully inadequate. As an example basic elementary school math is all that is needed for accounting but accounting is not taught in k-12 schooling. Another example would be that the supreme court is NOT suppose to have anything to do with the electoral process. NOTHING AT ALL ! Yet the general public or at least the media said nothing about this intrusion into the electoral process. The 2000 election should have gone to the House of Representatives when no clean winner was apparent There are a great many other examples & I could rant on this issue alone for thousands of words.

I have asked at least once " What is you definition of God " and some answers in 'layman's terms' it is just a 'theory' in that it is a matter of faith or it can not be proved or disproved. Because this Q is likely in the USA you are likely a Christian. Now whether you are a Protestant or a Catholic or a Mormon or some other denomination may not matter as far as Pascals wager goes, unless God is that of the Islamic faith then you are doomed.

You have bigger things to worry about than whether evolution is taught as fact or not.

Answer 2

Evolution is classified as a "theory" by scientists because, while all geological and archeological evidence supports it (and while lab tests on animals that breed quickly prove it), unless a scientist could build a time machine and go back and see it in action on our ancestors, it's got to be classified as a "theory." This definition of theory is totally different from the one that we use every day--when we say things like "I have a theory that. . ." to mean a loose and unproven idea.
So technically, lots of other things that are equally obvious are also theories---gravity, stars, other planets outside our solar systems. But, you'd feel like an idiot to assert that there's no such thing as gravity. The theory of evolution is only less accepted than these other theories because it contradicts religious tradition.

Answer 3

The theory of gravitation is just another anti-American conspiracy propounded by the Satanistic cult surrounding Obama, who himself is the anti-Christ. This country needs more thoughtful citizens like you to spread the alarm. If you found an organization, you might want to adopt a logo of Paul Revere riding through the streets of Boston warning British, "The Americans are coming, the Americans are coming!" But you might have to check first with Sarah Palin who has a copyright on that idea.

Answer 4

The theory of evolution is taught just as that- a theory. Evolution is widely accepted theory among scientists. Theories are important components of the scientific discovery process. Schools should not teach it as fact, but as a widely accepted theory. As for "intelligent design" that has no place in schools as anything.

Answer 5

Evolution is only a theory in a philosophical sense. In any other way evolution is a FACT. There are loads of fosil evidence and molecular evidence, which has been tested over and over and verified by peer review.

Evolution is as much as a fact as the Earth obits the Sun.

Answer 6

Only a young person would make such a declaration that there "is no proof whatsoever"; pardon me, but there is a ton of proof; you just haven't learned it yet. 100 years ago it was called a 'theory', but now with scientific advancements growing at such an accelerated rate of progression, this term should rightlyfully be changed to "the law of evolution". Go get an education, instead of remaining ignorant, which you clearly state when you say there is no proof.

Answer 7

Evolution is taught because there is some scientific proof of it. The young are not aimless because of evolution. They are aimless because of junk food, video games and television.

Answer 8

Perhaps you should go back and try that part of school again. You seem to have missed something. "Theory" in "theory of evolution" is used in the sense of scientific jargon, and is taught as such. You're confusing that with the more general definition of the word that's used in everyday English.

Answer 9

There is no definative 'proof' but lots of 'proofs' that suggest that its the way it happened.

I agree its wrong to teach it as fact. It should be : 'This is how we think/believe it happened.'

Then again, why is so much of out history taught as fact when in fact all we are getting is a 'one nation' view of events?

Answer 10

Oh dear.

Yet another creationist saying there is no proof for Evolution, yet happy to force kids to be indoctrinated into a church that has no proof that it's figure head ever existed.