Should teachers keep books that state the age of the Earth out of the classroom so as not to offend anyone?

Question

I ask simply because I had a fiasco the year before last over this and it is not something I want to do again.

By keeping non-fiction books that contain this information, am I imposing "my beliefs" on some children? Am I in any way insulting the beliefs of young Earth creationists? Would it just be safer to leave those books out of the classroom setting?

*No one was *forced* to read anything, btw.

Answer 1

If the book is a non-fiction book with a scientific basis, meaning there's evidence to back it up, then you keep it. That's what science is.
If creationists have a problem with that, then they can have their parents take them out of the class, and home-school them. You have a right to teach SCIENCE. Do not let those people intimidate you into failing to do your job. That's what they're trying to do, intimidate people into failing to pass on legitimate information in favor of their bronze-age superstition. If the kids behave disrespectfully, send them to the principals office. The law is on your side regarding this issue.

Answer 2

This is what science believes. The truth is that Christians really don't know how old the earth is. We don't know how long the creative periods really lasted- the Bible says 7 days, but we all know that there is much symbolism in the bible- I think most people know that Gods time is different than ours. So really we don't know how long it took to create the earth, so in this effect, science could be correct. The other thing we don't know is how long Adam and Eve were in the garden before partaking of the fruit. The bible is very unclear, makes it sound like a short time, of course Genesis moves rather quickly between Adam and Eve and Noah- there really is not much in between. So what I am saying is that Christians really don't know how old the earth is. We don't know if science is correct or not on this matter.

I think that Christians need to not be so quick to offense. If we don't think that is correct, we just need to teach our children that is what scientists believe but we believe differently- God has told us differently. This is the discussion we need to have with our children about Evolution. If we never teach our children about Science and scientific facts and theorys, then they will not be well prepared for this world.

Answer 3

you cannot teach History, Science or Biology without getting into the age of the earth.

And as far as i know no science books state an exact age of the planet. only some of the things that were on it.

school is for science and math. if a child has a religious problem with a subject, tell tham that they do not have to believe it. they just have to fill in the blakn on the test with the answer that the book wants them to so that they can get a good grade and go to college. so that their parents do not end up supporting them untill they are 45.

Answer 4

Having a Bible in the classroom is not a violation of church and state. It would be only if she was forcing people to read it. Having religious bumper stickers on her car is not a violation of church and state. It's an expression of her own personal religious beliefs, and is constitutionally protected. They should not be trying to have her park her car elsewhere. If she refused to teach evolution or sex education, and it was part of the curriculum, she is not doing her job. Now that she is in another school, someone there will complain about her if she still does this. You wouldn't be able to file a complaint about what she does there, because you don't have a kid in her class anymore.

Answer 5

You know, people need to grow up. I am tired of hearing how offensive something is to another person. We all have rights and should be allowed to believe in anything we want. It is irritating to hear someone complain that a religious symbol is taken down due to we don't want to offend someone or a group. Tough!!! We live in the land of the free, not a socialist or communist country. When people get this through their thick heads, then maybe there wouldn't be so much violence in the world. If you want to state that the earth is many billions of years old in class, you should be able to state this. This society has become a weak kneed, sniveling people. They hurt my feelings when he has a swastika tattoo, make him cover it up. He is wearing cross, make him take it off, etc., etc. (Sarcasm) Again, it is time as a society to grow another skin. WE NEED THICKER SKINS!!!!!! How what is is being worn or said hurting us physically. It isn't. Life is tough enough to be bothered what is taught in school. I would like alternative philosophies taught in school. I would like a continuous recitation of the "Pledge of Allegiance." If the words "under God" offend you, then don't say it. You are allowed to skip that part. No one is going force your lips and mouth to form the words. I believe in God and you know what, I don't care if you do or not. I will pray for you and you can accept it or not, I feel I just have to. Stop being offended and trying to stop those from expressing their own beliefs of non-beliefs. Think of the cartoon caricature of Mohammed with the turban shaped like a bomb. The artist was trying to show how radical Muslims have corrupted the teaching of the Quran. Yet, many Muslims complained and rioted forcing the removal of the article and drawing. Does it also interest you that the same rioters laugh at drawings making fun of other faiths? These are the hypocrites and yet the media gives them their lousy 15 minutes of shame. This is opinion and I don't care if you agree with it or not. I don't even care that you give me thumbs down or thumbs up. It will change how I feel about myself. Now if you will excuse me, I have a child to take care of.

Answer 6

It is the duty of teachers to teach. If you are teaching science, teach science, and the science is that the earth is 4.5 billion years old, give or take a few million, and if someone takes offense at that, it is their problem, not yours. It is entirely proper, in a science course, to have an examination question about the age of the earth, and to fail anyone who answers it incorrectly.

Postscript I must comment on a previous response. Evolution is NOT a religion, it is a scientific theory, and is now a proven fact as well. There is no justification for teaching any sort of creationist doctrine in a science class: it is NOT science, as it is not subject to refutation and hence can predict nothing.

Answer 7

The age of the earth is not a set in stone (pun intended) fct. Teach facts to children leave speculation to the more mature students, by the time they are old enough to know the difference between established VERIFIED FACT and Speculation. If you are an Educator you seek to teach truth if you are an Indoctrinator you teach things that you want people to believe...which are you?

Answer 8

We should also leave history books out since that might offend people who believe things occurred differently.

Physics books should be removed in case people don't like the way objects collide.

And English books should be removed because some people speak a different language.

Fiction should be left out since technically it's all lies.

Drawing books should be left out since pictures are worth a thousand words and we've already established that words are bad.

Answer 9

To leave them out would be bowing to Creationists and others beliefs. The classroom is a place for factual learning. No book that is generally accepted as factual should ever be excluded. Science should never bow to religion.

Answer 10

If the books are based in science fact, there should be no problem with them being in the class room.

If, on the other hand, these books are about 6000 year old earth, the books are full of fluffy gooey misrepresented science and should be burned.