Reply to Creationist Student

This letter is a reply to "Students need to know both sides of theory" (Below 18 section, Dec. 17), whose student author advocates teaching both evolution and creationism in high school.

Your letter claims that "macroevolution has not yet been proven," that "it is only a theory," that evolution is disproved by the 2nd law of thermodynamics. These are standard creationist arguments; the 2nd law business is over 30 years old. I have to point out that these arguments are wrong. You can find them answered on the FAQ page at http://www.talkorigins.org, a website with a mainstream scientific response to creationism.

You probably obtained these arguments from "creation ministry" religious groups. If you do compare them with the scientific response and if you do agree that the creationist view of science is flawed, it would be reasonable to ask whether the creationist view of religion is flawed as well.

You mention that some students refuse to answer chemistry questions and write "I do not believe in evolution" instead. To understand something is not the same as accepting it or believing it or declaring faith in it. It just means understanding.

I like your questioning spirit, and I hope you will keep it and even improve it, that you will insist on clarity and accuracy, on thorough discussion. I hope you will apply such standards to the scientific and creationist arguments equally. But I also think you should do this on your own time.

High school science classes should introduce students to the basic concepts of modern science, including the theory of evolution as the central theory of modern biology. That purpose should come first; actual scientific controversy (say, whether dinosaurs were warmblooded) has a place; but the inclusion of philosophical, political, religious, or social controversies cannot take priority over basic concepts.

Davis Cope