Evolution Versus Creationism in Schools

Folkbum posts on the movement that is heating up to change how science is taught in schools. As one who is both an educated scientist and a Christian, this is a topic near to my heart. As I once wrote in a more sarcastic way, there are problems on both sides of the argument, but most especially on the "reform" side.

Fundamentally, the "reformist" movement, i.e. that which wants to change science education to include the so-called intelligent design concept, claims that evolution is taught in schools as a proven fact, which it is not. In this, they are right. Nothing in science is or can ever be proven. Demonstrating evidence in support of a theory is not proving that theory, in the sense of prove meaning "to establish truth or fact." A theory can today neatly agree with experiments, therefore "proving" the theory, and tomorrow be thrown away. All scientific theories change over time as more observations are made which expose flaws in what is already established, forcing scientists to rework their theories. At times, these flaws are so pronounced that they force scientists to start over completely, as with the birth of quantum physics. The reformists are right that a proper education in science should include an examination of the flaws of the current theory, rather than simply teaching the students what works about the theory.

However, does that mean that teachers should be teaching intelligent design or creationism? Certainly not. That those are unscientific ideas best suited to the church pulpit rather than the science classroom should be readily obvious. Beyond that, the existence of flaws in evolution does not mean creationism is right. That seems to be the most common line of "evidence" for intelligent design and creationism: evolution doesn't explain everything, so creationism is supported. (Witness David Berlinski's "defense" of intelligent design.) That's just silly, and demonstrates exactly why these "theories" should not be taught in schools.

Science education should be a tool to teach students critical thought. The "reformers" would throw away critical thought, attributing any flaw in a theory to God. By the same token, establishment education in schools discourages critical thought by ignoring the holes in the theories, compelling students to accept these ideas without question, the antithesis of critical thought. Educating students to believe evolution is a fact is no better than educating them to believe creationism is science.

Science education should teach science in all its wonder. That means teaching the details of established theory, but also embracing the holes in the theory as a launching pad to greater discovery and insight into the world.