Evolution Theory and the chimps on both sides

"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."  -- Jack Handey

*Excerpts from the article provided below appear in BOLDFACE*

ATLANTA (Jan. 13) - A federal judge Thursday ordered a suburban Atlanta school system to remove stickers from its high school biology textbooks that call evolution ''a theory, not a fact,'' saying the disclaimers are an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.  The stickers were put inside the books' front covers by public school officials in Cobb County in 2002. They read: ''This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.''  [Italics added.]

First of all, both sides here need more tolerance and understandng of one another.

As for the ruling, the Federal Court judge got this one wrong.  As worded, these stickers were NOT an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.  Evolution is still a THEORY accepted by the scientific community, based on circumstantial evidence.  Circumstantial evidence can only create a likelihood that something happened a certain way, but it never irreconcilably proves something factual or not.  For example, convicted criminals are sometimes pardoned or released from prison after DNA evidence later disproves former theories -- established as fact -- formulated from circumstantial evidence.

Had the textbook stickers flat-out stated that Evolution was a lie or a bogus theory, or that Creationism was either fact or even the likely explanation for life on earth -- THEN they would represent an undeniable, absolute and unconstitutional endorsement of religion in a government-sponsored public forum.

On the other hand, I understand the wording that alarmed some parents, teachers and the ACLU.  Stating that Evolution is "not a fact" may sound like "Evolution is a lie."  But that's simply NOT what they stickers said.  In fact, nothing the stickers said is untrue.  Evolution IS indeed a theory, albeit one heavily and widely accepted by the scientific and historical intelligentsia throughout the world (based on circumstantial evidence).

At a trial in federal court in November, the school system defended the stickers as a show of tolerance, not religious activism.  As worded, the stickers did promote tolerance for diversity of opinion, a staple of the First Amendment.  Tolerance is something the ACLU is traditionally supposed to defend.  It is one's civil liberty to choose whether or not to believe something, let alone something unproven.  And one should not be forced to believe anti-religious dogma over religious dogma, or to believe one possible existence theory over another.  Frankly, this federal court ruling now mandates anti-religion more than it saves students from religious bias.  The textbook stickers encouraged students to approach unproven theories with an open mind.  Again, isn't that something the ACLU should fight to protect???  This further evidences the ACLU's grossly anti-religious double-standard.

I'm both an optimist and a realist, and I believe that both teaching students about Evolution and encouraging them to believe whatever existence theory they want -- can coexist peacefully.  Here are some suggestions:

(1)  This case needs mediation, not litigation; in other words, it needs compromise instead of winners and losers.  Nevertheless, I expect this case to make its way to the US Supreme Court.  Before it goes that far, the school needs to hold one or several town hall meeting(s) and let proponents of both sides speak their minds and express their differences.  Let parents know that this is how the matter will be decided.  Print ads in the local papers.  Advertise meetings on the local radio stations.  Let parents and teachers and administrators know that if they miss the town hall meetings, they miss their opportunity to affect the compromise.  All of these expenses will be a mere fraction of thelegal costs being spent now by both sides.

Personally, I believe it's important for the school to teach Evolution as the prominent scientific theory, even if no local student or parent believes in it.

(2)  I teach high school Englishand I've taught students Greek and Roman mythology.  Most high school freshmen still read The Odyssey and other myths in school.  No one can fully disprove that the Greek gods existed and directly shaped life on earth; however, common sense --based on historical and scientific circumstantial evidence -- shows reasonable alternatives.  It is still important, from an historical and aesthetic perspective, to understand what motivated people and their art throughout history and how both have changed throughout time.  Teaching about Greek gods should not automatically be mistaken for teaching students to believe in them as the ancient Greeks did.

Similarly, there is a difference between teaching students that Evolution is a theory and teaching students that they shouldn't believe it.  Or in teaching that they should believe in Creationism above all other theories.  I've never heard a news story about over-zealous religious parents or paranoid agnostic parents accusing an English teacher of imposing belief in Greek gods on his or her child.  Why can't school systems teach Evolution in a similar manner and avoid much of the fuss?

If a student doesn't want to believe it, (s)he doesn't have to.  That is his or her unalienable human and American right.  Likewise if (s)he does believe in Evolution.  However, if I'm a science teacher, I still want to teach Evolution as a predominant scientific theory and NOT as unchallenged fact because it is an important concept to at least understand -- even if one does not believe in it (i.e., Greek mythology).  So many people DO believe in this theory, however, which makes it extremely relevant to modern science and, thus, educational.

The unscientific AOL member poll supports my perception of this issue:
Does labeling evolution "a theory, not a fact" endorse religion to you?
No 58%
Yes 42%
Do you think evolution should be taught in public schools?
Yes 76%
No 24%
Total Votes: 34,334

(3)  Another suggestion is to teach evolution as you teach (dinosaur) Extinction.  Experts have different theories, but it's still important to know which ones are predominant in the scientific community.  No one knows exactlyhow or why humans inhabited and prospered through earth.  That said, it is important for students to learn about the theory of Evolution and its predominance in the scientific community worldwide.  No one has to believe Evolution as fact, but it is plain ignorant to pretend the theory does not: (A) exist; and (B) dominate modern scientific theory.  Teaching students THIS fact is not pressuring them to believe in Evolution, just as encouraging tolerance for alternative theories does not pressure students to believe in Creationism.

The federal judge in this case stated that "[w]hile evolution is subject to criticism, particularly with respect to the mechanism by which it occurred, the sticker misleads students regarding the significance and value of evolution in the scientific community.''

I agree that the significance and value of evolution in the scientific community is invaluable to any modern-day biology class.  However, this judge seems to have viewed the overall case with tunnel-vision as he apparently contradicted his own rationale with this ruling.  Again, if the textbooks indeed promoted Evolution as factual and not just as the leading scientific explanation for human existence, then this ruling actually mandates mind-control instead of preventing it.

(4)  If the community still wants disclaimers in their schools' Science textbooks, perhaps amend the wording.  I would suggest something like: "Though it remains the dominant scientific explanation for life as we know it, Evolution is one of many theories regarding life's origin.  This subject matter should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."  Perhaps change the wording on the stickers to include all forms of Existence Theory, not just Evolution.  Stress again that all theories are just theories; that none are proven fact, though some may have more evidence and may be more widely accepted as fact than others.

There is a bottom line here.  Both sides need more tolerance and compromise because the students (remember them?) need it.  Enough distractions from learning!  This battle is so easy to avoid, even in Bible Belt, USA. 

To both sides involved: Swallow some pride and stop damaging these poor kids' education with senseless (and expensive) bickering.