Evolution vs Creationism in School

The Teaching of Nonessential Science

There is no room for nonscientific theories such as intelligent design and creationism within the public school biology curriculum.

Evolution is the premier description of the variation of species, and just because it may have a few missing links doesn’t imply that it’s teaching should be disowned and replaced with religious ideology.

Solutions

What's wrong with intelligent design?

What's wrong with evolution?

The constitutional Debate

• Continue to teach evolution without any outside religious influence.
• Teach the controversy.
• Create a curriculum were creationism/intelligent design is taught alongside evolution.

• Separation of Church and State
• The 1st Amendment

• Evolution itself can be considered a religion.
• The theory of evolution is incomplete
• The teaching of evolution infringes upon the religious rights of students.

The modern evolution vs creationism debate

Background

Basic Terminology:

• Evolution
• Creationism
• Intelligent Design

• Intelligent design isn't a scientific theory (nonessential science)
• The teaching of intelligent design is deemed unconstitutional.
• Teaching intelligent design can lead to many educational drawbacks.
• Intelligent Design has hidden secular intentions

• Scopes trial
• Intelligent Design

"Intelligent Design Theory Is Religion, Not Science." Intelligent Design vs. Evolution. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "No Contest: It Will Take More than Thinly Disguised Creationism to Defeat Darwin." New Scientist 187 (9 July 2005): 5. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

"Intelligent Design Is a Scientific Theory." World Religions. Ed. Mike Wilson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Science of IDEA." www.ideacenter.org, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. Creationism."

Kofahl, Robert E. "Scientific Evidence Against Evolution and for Creation Should Be Included in Science Curricula." The Handy Dandy Evolution Refuter. Rpt. in Education. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Leshner, Alan J. "Intelligent Design Should Not Be Taught in Public School Science Classrooms." Intelligent Design vs. Evolution. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Should Public Schools 'Teach the Controversy' Surrounding Evolution and Intelligent Design? No." CQ Researcher (29 July 2005). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Wellman, Jack. "Overcoming Public Acceptance of Intelligent Design by the Scientific Method." Intelligent Design vs. Evolution. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Why Scientists Shouldn't Be Surprised by the Popularity of Intelligent Design." Skeptical Inquirer 30.3 (May-June 2006): 46-49. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

Work Cited

American Association for the Advancement of Science. "Intelligent Design Is Unscientific." World Religions. Ed. Mike Wilson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Q & A on Evolution and Intelligent Design." 2005. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Branch, Glenn. "Textbooks That Teach Evolution Are Not Biased." Are Textbooks Biased? Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Foreword." Voices for Evolution. Ed. Carrie Sager. 3rd ed. Oakland, CA: National Center for Science Education, Inc., 2008. v-vi. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.

Calvert, John H. "Outlawing Discussion of Intelligent Design in Schools Is a Violation." Intelligent Design vs. Evolution. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Dover Court Establishes State Materialism." The Watchman 3 (Feb. 2006). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

“Creationism”. Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

DeWolf, David K., and Seth L. Cooper. "The Law Requires the Teaching of Critiques of Darwinism." Culture Wars. Ed. Mitchell Young. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Teaching About Evolution in the Public Schools: A Short Summary of the Law." Discovery Institute. 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Forrest, Barbara Carroll. "Intelligent Design Movement Undermines the Separation of Church and State." Intelligent Design vs. Evolution. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Inside Creationism's Trojan Horse: A Closer Look at Intelligent Design." Georgia Journal of Science 63 (Fall 2005): 153-162. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.

Forrest, Barbara, and Glenn Branch. "Advocates Promote a New Type of Creationism as Scientific." Culture Wars. Ed. Mitchell Young. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Wedging Creationism into the Academy." Academe 91.1 (Jan.-Feb. 2005): 36-41. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

Gish, Duane T. "'Scientific Creationism' Should Be Taught in Science Classrooms." Teaching Creation Science in Public Schools. Rpt. in Creationism vs. Evolution. Ed. Eric Braun. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.