Copyright MMIX
 
Stillwater Area High School
5701 Stillwater Blvd. N.
Stillwater, MN 55082

The Pony Express is not responisble for the content of external websites.

Afton Kelly
Copy Editor

The First Amendment states that people have the freedom to choose whether or not to practice faith without government interference. However, there is still a question of public schools teaching evolutionism over creationism. There may be pro-creationist families in the Stillwater school district, but those numbers should not dictate what students of different origins learn. While creationism rules in conservative Christian and Jewish faiths, more orthodox followers of these religions may disagree.

If creationism was taught in school, non-creationist students would feel like non-adherents and outsiders to their educational community. The Genesis creation narrative states god created the world in six days but is a text without scientific proof behind it. Without evidentiary support to confirm creationism, it can be dismissed. Explaining unknown by known fact is logical, but it is theologically insane to explain known by unknown. Instead, schools examine Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, first published in 1859.

Evolution is the change in the inherited genetic traits of organisms through successive generations. The evidence is sitting in every home, because it is undeniable fact that genetics are passed from parent to child. Evolutionary biologists document how evolution occurs and also develop and test theories that explain the causes behind it.

Biology is the study of all living organisms. Evolutionary biology began when research into the diversity of living organisms convinced scientists that all species change over time, beginning from bacteria. These changes are caused by miniscule genetic mutations in DNA, and continued through natural selection.

Evolutionism, therefore, is accepted as scientific. The theory of evolution is based on trial and error and is a continuous scientific process. Students learn in Biology class that all scientific processes are subject to change, whereas creationist beliefs are unyielding and solely use biblical text as an explanation. Some may argue that teaching evolutionism is denying their religious beliefs, but evolutionism is not specifically atheist. Instead, it is non-theist because it applies to everyone. The idea of creationism, however, comes from monotheistic culture. The theory of evolution does not teach personally exclusive material because it is not religiously biased.

If a student or parent wants to learn about creationism, they are entitled to study at home, in church or in a religiously affiliated private school. Public schools are for the general public – they exist to teach students scientific fact, not controversial and exclusive belief.