6.4 Controversies

6.4 Controversies

6.4.1 Public Policy Issues

Creationists say that evolution is a theory in crisis with some scientists criticizing evolution and ask for equal time to educate students about the alleged scientific controversy. Opponents, the overwhelming majority of the scientific community and science education organizations, reply that there is no scientific controversy, and that the controversy exists solely in terms of religion and politics.

George Mason University Biology Department introduced a course on the creation/evolution controversy and, apparently, as students learn more about biology, they find objections to evolution less convincing. Would “teaching the controversy” rightly undermine creationists’ criticisms?

6.4.2 Freedom of Speech

Creationists have claimed that preventing them from teaching Creationism violates their right of Freedom of speech.