Why should creationism, or intelligent design, be taught in public schools?

Answer 1

It shouldn't be taught in science class because it's not science. It's a theory which emmanates from a relgion, so why not teach it in a comparative religions or philosophy class at the high school level? That would defeat any "excessive entanglement" or "establishment of religion" constitutional arguments by liberals, and students would get a much broader education than they currently do..

Answer 2

Science without religion is irresponsible, and religion without science is naive.

More importantly, however, religion is an important part of Western culture. I'm not suggesting that it is correct, or that it should be forced upon anyone...but knowledge of it is very important. As it is, kids today don't know how to spell, because spellcheck will take care of any mistakes for them. They cannot add a row of numbers, because they have calculators for that. They don't even need to go to a library and find a book through the old Dewey Decimal System, because they just surf the net for their information. If such things are not taught...just for educational purposes at the very least, it will be lost. It is proven that we can not rely upon parents to do much teaching...as they are caught up in their own lives and careers. So it falls to the schools to demonstrate the different belief systems. Again...not preaching...but educating. VERY IMPORTANT in my belief!

Answer 3

It should be taught in scripture classes, if that is deemed appropriate stuff to teach in schools.

It should not be taught in science because it is inherently unscientific: at the basis of science is the need to question the unknown, to investigate it, to seek to understand it.

'Intelligent design', which is creationism renamed, seeks only to find things that are not known so the observer can say 'Ha! Fairy did it!'.

Of course, the only reason religious nuts are in a lather over getting this INTO SCHOOLS is because they know a rational education based on enlightenment values and truth-seeking turns millions of kids away from the church- by teaching them to think for themselves.

Any religious takers for this question? Or are you all off praying to Fairy?

Answer 4

Why teach evolution? The theory is taught as if it were fact so much so that many think it is undeniable except that they don't know what it is.

If the community in which the school is located wants to teach intelligent design they should be allowed to. As long as the school meets or exceeds the Federal testing standards they should be able to teach pretty much what they want.

Answer 5

Yes. It is a line of thinking that many people follow. It my or may not be important that it is taught in the context of a science class, but it it is not, it MUST be taught in the context of social studies.

There should be a level of separation of church/state; in that public schools should not support one religion over another, but it is doing everyone a great disservice to act as if religion does not exist. It does, and it shapes peoples lives, regardless of what any one persons views are.

Answer 6

It shouldn't. Neither should evolution. At least not until High School. And then they can teach them both. A day or two of creation theory is fine, just teach them the 7 days. I don't care, but it's about freedom of religion for me.

I don't want my child being indoctrinated by the school about origin theory. It doesn't have anything to do with science.

High School is early enough for the government to try to tell him how to think. In the meantime, exposing him to religion or not is my job.

And if evolution is such a "factual" theory, why are they subtly inserting it in a 1st grade reader?

Answer 7

Creativeness and Design must be taught in public schools because these medium are very much needed with the advance of technology so that the students will develop their talents and skills.

Answer 8

Two reasons.

First teach alternatives whenever possible. Teach that facts should ALWAYS be scrutinized. Our children need to learn to analyze and think, not blithely accept.

Second, [and this reason is non-scientific but does serve to illustrate the double-standard the education system uses]. If a school can teach that the WTC was brought down by Aliens, explosives or some other means that the scientifically endorsed scenario, then it stands to reason that my first argument is correct.

Answer 9

I cannot find any good reason for a religious belief to be introduced to public schools. Keep religion in church.

Answer 10

As an opposing view to Darwinism, which hasn't been "proven" either, they are both theories, hence, they should be given equal time.