Most parents believe that it’s their duty to pass their ideals and values on to their children. Their belief is that their children are more than just their biological replacements; their children are their legacy. But even after considering that, is it absolutely essential that your kids maintain all your beliefs? Even the outdated ones? The belief I am referring to is that creationism correctly explains the origin of our species as opposed to evolution. Evolution is widely accredited as the correct view of the origin of man and is based on more than enough evidence. Teaching children creationism, a theory based on little reasoning, is not only irresponsible, but it also undermines their future ability to put value in evidence and logic.
Creationists believe that all living organisms on earth were created as an act of divine creation by God. This belief is most popular in nations where Christianity dominates. The United States remains one of the only developed nations in the world whose population still widely accepts creationism. According to a Gallup poll on evolution and creationism taken in 2012, 46% of the US population believed that god created humans as we are and 36% believed that humans evolved, but with god’s help. These results are almost nonexistent in other first-world countries, but the US continues to poll these numbers year after year.
The theory of evolution is very different; it states that all living organisms on earth were created through a natural process without any intervention from god. This theory has emerged from decades of research dating back from 1838 when Darwin first conceived his theory of natural selection. Scientific experiments such as fossil dating and DNA sequencing have discovered sufficient evidence to convince the vast majority of the scientific population. According to the National Center For Science Education, 97% of all scientists believe in evolution. Yet, even with this unanimity among professionals, people continue to not be convinced.
Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist, stated, “It amazes me that people have preexisting notions that defy all the evidence of reality and that they hold on to them so dearly.” Krauss discusses the fact that even after all the evidence against creationism, it still continues to be prevalent in children’s education. He goes on to say that teaching kids creationism is like teaching kids that the US is 17 feet long; it’s so illogical it’s actually doing the kids a disservice to their education. Similarly, you would never tell your kids that eating candy is good for their teeth. All the evidence shows that candy is bad for their teeth, so it would be illogical to tell them otherwise. Why should teaching evolution be any different?
Not only is teaching kids creationism illogical, it’s wrong. Teaching them to disregard a belief that is based entirely on evidence and proof compromises their ability to make reasonable decisions. Tulsi Patel, a genealogist at the University of Colombia, said, “If we train students to unquestioningly believe what is written in a text instead of accessing evidence and critically studying the world as it exists, we stiffen their curiosity and ability to reason.” Curiosity and the ability to reason are central to success in every scientific field. Without them our children are destined for failure. Bill Nye, an American scientific educator, referred to excluding evolution and trying to do scientific work as “trying to do geology without believing in tectonic plates. You’re just not going to get the right answer.” By teaching them evolution—the core of all life sciences— we are ensuring that they do get the right answers and that they have the proper footing to become the doctors, pharmacists, and biological engineers of tomorrow.
It is not my intent to tell parents how to raise their children, nor am I saying that I am an expert in child rearing. Parenting differs from situation to situation, with each parent making individual choices that seem necessary for a proper upbringing. All parents have a right to pass on their unique ideals to their children. However, the general aim of these ideals should serve to be beneficial to the child. The youth of today should not have to suffer the consequences— educationally or professionally— for the outdated beliefs of the previous generation. Parents have a duty to teach their children what is best for them even if it conflicts with their own beliefs.
Children are extremely impressionable and the things they learn early on can leave a lasting impact on their lives. Parents should take advantage of this and instill an appreciation for evidence and reasoning. Preaching creationism will only serve to undermine this appreciation and make it harder for them to grasp the concepts of our reality. Teaching children evolution encourages the pursuit for knowledge through experimentation and analysis. This strong foundation will lead them to be more prepared for an increasingly competitive work force and will help ensure that they have the tools to be successful in their future.
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