Authored by Jody Morse in Education
Published on 09-22-2009
Creationism is a religious-based science that says that earth and the universe were created by God. Teaching creationism is schools is highly controversial. Although there are some schools who do not allow it, there are others who allow it to be practiced because they do not feel that it is directly teaching religion. Generally, these are private schools. Many public school districts do not allow it to be taught. It is important to take the following factors into consideration when teaching creationism in schools.
Remember to Actually Teach, Not Preach
The biggest mistake that many educators make when teaching creationism in schools is that they do not actually teach. Instead, they preach. It is important to keep in mind that creationism is a way to explain how universe and Earth have evolved over time. Thus, it is a science. There is no reason to give your students a religious sermon. Instead, you will want to mainly focus on the theory that creationism is a scientific theory that explains how the Earth came to be. Also keep in mind that you won’t want to shove your own opinion down your students’ throats. You do not want to try to convert them to a specific religious. What you want to do is present the facts in an unbiased manner.
Don’t Emphasize on a Specific Religion
When teaching creationism in schools, it is easy for a teacher from a specific religion to focus on that religion. This may be suitable if you are teaching at a Catholic or other religious school. Remember that even at these schools, not all of the students are true followers of the religion. It is important to let students know that creationism can be applied to any religion, whether it is Muslim or Christianity. This will make the whole entire teaching of creationism seem a lot less preachy. It will also help prevent any students from feeling as though they are being discriminated against.
Try to Offer Alternative Explanations
When possible, it is a good idea to offer students an alternative to creationism. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most well known alternative explanations on how the earth has come to be the way it is. Keep in mind that this is something that you will need to discuss with the school district that you are teaching at. Certain school districts and states have their own guidelines on what evolution theories can or cannot be taught. If you are teaching at a religious school, it is unlikely that Darwin’s theory will be well accepted. Certain private schools may be more open to the idea, however.
Creationism can be very tough to teach. If you are in a school district that allows this religious-based theory to be taught, it is important to put a lot of thought into the way that you teach it. Not sounding too preachy, avoiding emphasis on only one religion, and offering alternative explanations to creationism are a few great ways to ensure the most fair and unbiased teaching of this scientific theory.
