Should Creationism Be Taught In Public Schools

828 Words2 Pages

Creationism is the belief that a superior being formed the universe. This statement alone sparks strong feelings and many disputes. Individuals either hold this belief and desire to share it or wish to discredit and discard it. Particularly, the question of whether creationism should be taught in public schools has been a topic of debate for many years. Recently, this controversy has intensified in various states and localities throughout our nation. Individuals on each side of the argument hold passionate opinions on the topic, and both sides present some valid arguments. However, it is evident that creationism should be taught in public schools because it is a legitimate subject matter, there is public demand for this topic, and a …show more content…

Creationism is one of many unverified ideas held by individuals of many religions and cultures in the United States and throughout the world. Knowing of the theory of creationism is crucial to becoming a well-informed individual in almost any society. Science and Christianity offer explanations for the origin and development of life on Earth. Some people who are opposed to the teaching of creationism argue that only facts should be taught, not theories. Although the fault in this logic has been previously addressed, there is even more reason to get rid of such narrow mindedness. The idea or purpose of public education is to provide students with skills and information needed to become successful and productive members of society. If you don't present opposing viewpoints and diverse beliefs, it will result in a school system that produces individuals who are unable to think independently. A major aspect of colleges and universities is professors who challenge the thoughts of their students. There is no reason that this should only begin in adulthood. Rather, controversial subject matter can and should be taught in an age appropriate way beginning in kindergarten. This includes such areas as different religious customs in society and divergent cultural practices. Creationism …show more content…

There are many groups dedicated to promoting the teaching of “evolution only,” or “science only.” There is research and statistics of evolution being taught in public schools. These groups and individuals claim that creationism is a religious concept and therefore has no place in public schools. However, creationism is not associated with any one specific religion, as virtually every religion and culture has a creation story of some sort. Including the multiple possible creation stories and inviting students to share the ones of their own beliefs effectively defeats this argument. Those against teaching creationism also claiming that it opposes science. However, many researchers have found scientific evidence that supports creationism. Additionally, contrary to the ignorance of many, creationism and evolution are not mutually exclusive concepts. In fact, virtually every individual believes in some degree of evolution once properly informed about what evolution actually is. Therefore, creationism and evolution can and should be taught as complementary concepts. These truths invalidate the opposition’s second major argument. Although the opponents of teaching creationism try many tactics to remove this theory from public school curriculum, almost all of their campaigns stem from these two main arguments, both of which have been effective and

Open Document