In my 9th-grade biology class at FHC, we studied evolution. We examined specific species closely as well as humans and learned how natural selection and an organism’s overall fitness aided in its survival. That is how modern humans came to be. So, in taking so much time to investigate this process in school, you could imagine how surprised I was to learn my sister who attended a private—Catholic—school had neglected to study this. 

Regularly, when I hear reference to separating science and religion—really separating religion and anything at all—my mind immediately jumps to politics. While this is a predominant stage for the argument, it is interesting when you see such disputes in other aspects of my day-to-day life, education for one. The true question is how important is the separation, and why is it so important?

For topics such as Darwinism and the theory of evolution, they reside on the scientific side of the argument. The opponent tends to be creationism.  

If you don’t know what creationism is, let me explain. 

The Book of Genesis in the Bible states that in the six days before he rested, God created Heaven, Earth, plants, and eventually people. The book also states that living organisms and life itself originate from divine acts of creation. This directly conflicts with the theory of evolution, thus deeming it false. 

I am not here to argue what I believe. Proving which I accept would be significantly harder than arguing how they should be handled in regard to school curriculum. That is my argument for today.

Public education is a vastly helpful tool in regard to education in the United States. They offer the opportunity for almost every child in the country to graduate and receive a high school diploma, and educating more people affects crime rates, political engagement, and a multitude of other important factors in a functioning society.

However, because attending public school is much more accessible and manageable for most students in contrast to private school, it tends to call for a much more diverse crowd. This isn’t a bad thing, or at least it shouldn’t be.

A diverse pool of experience and beliefs calls for students to be exposed to understanding many points of view and opinions, in turn making them more well-rounded and aware. This sense of awareness tends to call for a broader sense of acceptance; while you may not agree with someone, you can at least attempt to understand where they are coming from. 

While private schools can offer this as well, Mlive reports that 90% of all private schools in Michigan have some sort of religious affiliation. Not to say that all attendees of private schools adhere to the religions their school represents or that everyone of the same religion exhibits the same culture and ideals, but likely many people share more similarities in ideas and customs given their school of choice and the religion it adheres to. 

As a student—especially at a public school—you probably don’t share the same religious views as all of your peers. Regardless, this shouldn’t lend itself to an issue.

Seated in science class, it shouldn’t even be an argument that you are taught anything deviating from science. 

Several subjects and lessons taught in school likely contradict beliefs and morals students have that have nothing to do with religion. It is not until faith becomes involved that this is an argument at all.  

Biology is the teaching of evolution by the standards of science. If evolution adheres to this standard, then such an argument of ‘to teach or not to teach’ shouldn’t even be taken seriously. Students deserve to be taught the accepted science; whether they choose to recognize it, or not, is completely up to them.