Proof: It Can Be Done

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the British Humanist Association and many others in the UK, the curriculum for state-funded schools now bans the teaching of creationism, and requires the teaching of evolution. This is a big win for science, and an even bigger win for British children.

This really is an astounding leap. This issue is one that has been a personal one for me for a long time. I strongly believe that what kids are learning in schools today is vital in inspiring them to inquire about the world around them. The foundation of all inquiry is having a strong base of knowledge that relies on factual information, and then expanding on that base through exploration. Without either of those we can’t hope to have young people who want to do science.

The US is facing some issues with the concept of science education. Creationists have long held the belief that their views and beliefs be taught as an alternative to the current scientific curriculum of evolution. This issue has attracted celebrities and politicians much in the same way that vaccines have (which I will discuss in a different post). Unfortunately issues of creationism vs. evolution have no place in politics, and that debate should not be left up to the children of this country to try and figure out for themselves.

This isn’t to say we are without victory in the US. Recently the public has realized (rightly) that the burden of proof should lie with the party that is challenging the accepted norm. This used to mean that evolution had to prove every claim, but now the burden has shifted onto creationism. This change in how the arguments are structured allows science to do what it does best: disprove hypotheses. And that is what evolutionary biologists have been doing lately.

Thankfully logic and reason have finally won over the UK, and despite the politically and religiously heated environment, I have faith that the US can figure this out too.

I would love to hear which side of this argument you are on. If you feel we should be teaching creationism in schools, comment down below. If you think evolution is the way it should be, start an argument with one of the previous group’s members. Remember though, be civil.