How do you think a teacher should respond to a 5th grader's question about Evolution and the Bible?

Question

I'm pretty sure science teachers all accross America are faced with this :
Many eager little Christians, filled with religious doctrine, who are absolutely shocked when they start learning about Evolution.
How should a teacher respond to :
" But the Bible says we come from Adam and Eve and they were not APES!!"?
While I kinda recoil at the teachers going " Well, the Bible is wrong" (besides the whole angry christian parents demanding their resignation or lawsuits nightmares), I don't think they should lie either.
What do you think is the best, gentle professional way to deal with this dilemma?

Answer 1

I'd go with something that sounds like

"Well, some people believe... But what science tells us is that...".

There is no way to avoid angry parents unless you're willing to lie like mad to the kids, and I think that's simply wrong. What you can do, though, is to go out of your way to NOT incite, so that the only people who get angry are those who were going to get angry no matter what you did. Then you have to count on the good sense of others around you to see that you made a good faith effort and to defend you against the fallout.

Excellent question.

Answer 2

I went to a public high school (graduated 2002), and I remember my AP bio teacher telling us right before going over evolution- "I don't really care what you believe about the nature of creation but this is a science course and we are going discuss evolution because it is the primary scientific theory on how we got to where we are as a planet"

The only argument a little christian kid could make to that would be that there is also evidence for creationism, which is true, but it isn't the mainstream scientific view. If you took the time to go over all the different ways people believe we got here you would also have to cover the idea that we were cloned from aliens and left as an experiment, that we are demigods, that we are the souls of alien rebels killed by an alien overlord and then implanted in human bodies so they could not reincarnate as aliens, etc, etc.

There are just way too many views to discuss them all so you have to go with the dominant SCIENTIFIC theory, and if anyone has any questions about another theory tell them they are entitled to their opinion but you are only going to discuss the mainstream scientific view.

Answer 3

It must be a tough job to have to tell children the truth. If you tell the children the real truth, that there is no Santa Claus and there is no God, you will be cast out of your job like a bug from a salad. I don't know what to tell you. I know what I would do. I would tell them the truth as I know it. I would tell them that there is a difference in religous beliefs and science. Science presents clear facts and documentation and religion has nothing to do with science. They are two completely different animals altogether and cannot be compared. The problem arises when the child begins to understand for themselves that belief in the fantasies they have learned at church are just not reasonable so they question these teachings after their minds are exposed to the truth.

Answer 4

I dont believe the bible and I will say that I think that under no circumstances should the teacher tell a child that the bible is wrong, or that any religion is wrong. This only alienates children.

I don't know what is the best way to handle it. I look forward to reading the answers. I am sure this happens a lot.

Answer 5

State is unequivocal words.

This is a science class and here science is taught. And according to science, evolution is the most widely accepted theory to explain various species.

You can also give them examples, proofs, books that will make them realize what evolution actually is. Make their minds think and question, and finally conclude. This way, instead of giving them an answer, guide them to get to the answer themselves. In turn helping them foster a stronger belief in science and logic and reasoning.

You can tell them that these are the proofs and materials that you have. And you cannot explain the bible in classroom as you are not 'the right person' nor are you authorized to answer questions from the bible.

This could help you save yourself trouble later. As you did what you are supposed to, and did not what you are not supposed to. Science is what you need to explain and you did that part. Bible is something you need to keep out and you did that as well.

Good luck.

PS: Talking to your principal and letting him/her know in advance will help.

Answer 6

The normal repsonse I see advised is:

"I'm teaching the theory of evolution. At the end of the year there will be a test. On evolution. You don't have to believe it but you do need to learn it".

But personally I would (depending on how much of a bigot the child is) explain about theory and that all science is a theory and evolution is one of them. We should question everything we are told (and leave it to him to make the connection with questioning the bible).

Answer 7

I think the safe and responsible thing to do is explain that each explanation is a theory and then show the differences. Let the parents decide if they want to teach children the religious view of man's time on Earth. It's innappropriate for teachers to be expected to teach children such things. If the teachers stick with saying "There are many different theories on how modern man came to be, the most prevalent of which are the scientific theory that man evolved from primative animals over hundreds of millions of years, and the Christian belief that man, and subsequently woman, was created by God."

That way teachers are teaching children that there is more than one belief and they aren't stepping on anyone's toes.

Answer 8

It was about that time when I gave a prepared report to the class on evolution vs. creation. The teacher wanted to have it both ways. God created everything using evolution. This was wrong on all counts.

I gave the science behind creation, fossils, dating methods, lack of the in-between species==missing links and showed the flaws in evolution.

He never admitted I was right but I got his respect.

Answer 9

"This is a science class. We're going to be learning about the theory of evolution because that is the most likely explanation for the origin and development of life on this planet based on the weight of evidence and scientific research. However, some of you have probably been taught differently, that all life was created by god in pretty much the same form as you see it today. I'm not going to tell you that's wrong. Neither evolution nor creation can be 100% proven or disproven. It's your personal decision what to believe. But this is a science class so we will be learning about science here. The place for religious teaching is in church or at home. Okay, please open your texts to the beginning of chapter one..."

Answer 10

About twenty years ago for me when I had science in Jr. High my teacher told us that we know what we believe and are taught in Sunday school. (Most everyone in our area goes to church and claims to be Christian. I live in a very remote area.) But "they" make her teach the theory of evolution. She would stress "THEORY". That this is what scientist think, that they are not for sure. We had to answer the questions on test like the text book stated. I hated it, I barely passed that class.