A Serious Misstep in the Education of Our Youth

"In science, theory does not mean guess or hunch." It's remarkable that the controversy over teaching evolution continues to be so rancorous, given that the central issues have been resolved in the courts and by much of the American public. All of the major religious denominations have concluded that the concept of evolution is not at odds with their concepts of creation and human origins. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1987 and a number of lower courts have ruled that creationism is religion, not

Written byBruce Alberts

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"In science, theory does not mean guess or hunch."

It's remarkable that the controversy over teaching evolution continues to be so rancorous, given that the central issues have been resolved in the courts and by much of the American public. All of the major religious denominations have concluded that the concept of evolution is not at odds with their concepts of creation and human origins. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1987 and a number of lower courts have ruled that creationism is religion, not science, and cannot be required to be taught in science classrooms.

But those who believe in the literal accuracy of the Bible are continuing to find ways to discourage the teaching of evolution, as we've just witnessed in the recent decision by the Kansas State Board of Education.

Many teachers do not have the resources or support they need to overcome these pressures. As a result, ...

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