Would you pull your child out of an science class that taught evolution?

Well, I'm not a parent either, though if I had a child, I'd make sure they get a well-rounded education. That includes, of course, evolution, and intelligent design if they wish to look into it as well. I'm a very objective person, however, so evolution will be a must. I can't understand why a parent would be so careless with their child's education as to pull them out of class just because "they don't believe in evolution". You know, if you don't believe it, that's fine - but don't make your child suffer intellectually because you don't believe in, nor care to understand, the theory of evolution. I've met enough students who were homeschooled by parents who didn't believe in evolution, and their ignorance of the concept is astounding. If they claim evolution is false it's because "it's too complex" - a horrid excuse, and one that comes from lack of understanding about evolution. Of course, that could easily be avoided by allowing them to at least learn the basics of it. So ends my little rant about parental negligence with their children's education. I intend to provide my future children with access to any shred of information available that peaks their interest. I can't imagine doing anything less.

I would pull my child out of any class that taught a one-sided view of anything, whether history, evolution or english. I expect my children to be taught that there are always more options and always alternative theories.

I would not pull him out. Instead, I would teach him about God, his love for us and the fact that he created the world. That we are not here by accident, and that all this beauty is not here by accident. Then he would be able, like I have, to discern that evolution is for losers, and a bag of lies.

I think it is the responsibility of parents to teach their children about moral values and religion at home, sarah, and I would not have a problem with sending them to a school that taught evolution. Children are usually a quick study, and learn to form their own opinions soon enough, lol.

In my home I feel I should only teach my child things I know to be factual, so therefor religion is not a huge part of our lives and neither is evolution.I don't think I will pull my son out of a class because it is being taught, nor will he be punished or corrected for taking an interest in it, same goes for religion.I believe that he should make his own choices about both.Of course, he's only five...

Even though i am not a parent, i would not pull my child out of a class that taught evolution because i think that children need to be exposed to all kinds of astpects of life, and that seeing both sides of an issue is a good thing!!

I am a parent and I do believe in God... but I did not pull my kids from school when they were learning about evolution. It's a theory and I don't have a problem with them learning it. On the other hand, I did take them to the new Creation Museum in Kentucky a few weeks ago. This museum explains how dinosaurs and the Bible co-existed. Very, very unique and powerful museum!

As long as evolution is taught as a theory, I can see no problem. I was taught evolution, it never stopped me from believing in creation, although it was confusing for me as a child. I think that we have to accept that evolution is a theory, creation is a theory - neither one is likely to be proved. The crux of faith (Christian) is what we believe about Christ. I would be more concerned about how the school is likely to try to portray Christ.

I won't. I truly believe in God. Now if i learned that my kid has taken up lessons about this evolution, i would explain to him/her the difference about facts and theories. I was once a student and have taken up that lessons back to my tertiary level. I had this question in my mind before... if theory of evolution is no longer a theory, what would happen to us (christians)? for example, let's say believe it or not, evolution is true. then maybe God has a good reason for that. But there is one thing for sure that God created all.

Evolution is a proven fact. So why would I take my kids out of that class? If there was a class that taught Religion I definately wouldn't want my kids subjected to that. I understand that in some Catholic Schools in Canada there is no discussion. The kids are taught what to believe and that's that!

This is a good question. I think that the parents should determine what school they want to bring their children up in. I was brought up in a public school and we had all kinds of theories thrown at us. If I was brought up in an Amish school they go up to the 8 th. grade..but this is their custom/right/privledge? Well, if you go to public school prepare to hear all the different theories as this is paid for by the government. If you don't want your children exposed to evolution then home schooling or a private school is the way to go. I know Henry Ford did not like Latin taught in his private schools..this was his views and he had the money to see that Latin was not taught for his grandchildren. This is what I read in a Ford Biography.....beieve it or not

Since my course is in the field of science so I have encountered evolution concept all the time and we even go deeper on this matter. However, it doesn't bother me and it doesn't affect my belief in God. I just take it as part of the curriculum or of my course. I firmly believe that God is my and all the things creator. So, if I will have a child already, I will never pull him out from his science class that talks about evolution. Instead I will make sure to it that he is fundamentally established with his faith in God and that he knows that he is God's creation and not by evolution. It is just a matter of constant follow-up and making it sure that he knows what he needs to know.

No, but I would make sure that I tell them the real story of creation. Otherwise, how can the tell their beliefs and the whys of what they belive or even know the whys themselves? I did however, pull my kids out of the "discet a frog" science class day. I am sorry but with all the dieases and things going on and with frogs and rodants and carriers all that these days... just to cut them open to actually see and touch insides, the risk is just not worth it. I remember doing it in the 7th grade way back when and it was just the most grossest thing and I was so all but tramatized I passed out!

Back to your original question, and it's an excellent one; no I wouldn't pull my child out of shcool in this instance. I was taught evolution and I was raised a staunch Catholic. My parents, who freak over just about everything, remained calm when evolution was discussed. Their calm demeanor, so opposite of the parents I knew, left me room to breathe and think. Someday, my grandkids will be in school. It's laughable to think my strong headed daughter would pull her child from school because evolution was taught. She's an anthropology major and her upset would come from the opposite end of this discussion. In the end, we all find our own way, except many of us have broken toes from stumbling around in the darkness of our confused brain. Thanks for starting this discussion. It's been very interesting reading all the comments.

I believe in evolution, just to put that out there. I also believe in Gpd. But I have no trouble with my child learning different theories. Because isn't it all theory? I don't even mind if they have a different opinion than me, as long as they were logical in coming to it.

I have always encouraged my daughter to see the world objectively, and not to follow the hucksters selling their snake oil to the gullible masses. And evolution, using a very scientific method, is a must in a well rounded education. Anyone with an open mind and doing any amount of reading, cannot help but acknowledge, that it didn't just work in the past, but is an ongoing process, that can be observed in present species. Only someone with eyes and mind(?) closed can deny it. Intelligent design (talk of an oxymoron!) is a fable that has seen the daylight under different names to hide its origin, from another fairy tale book.

I wouldn't pull my son out but I would want to know exactly what is being taught. I would also want my son to be able to challenge what is being taught without being downgraded or dismissed. The problem with the teaching of evolution is that teachers will often give their personal view. For example, one of my son's teacher gave her theistic view. However, Darwinian evolution only calls for naturalistic causes as any scientific journal will confirm. I don't think that intelligent design or creation should be taught in public schools as biased uninformed teacher will only do it a disservice.

I came from a Christian background myself, but since ever I can remember I've had a deep love for the sciences...in fact I was a classic science geek...I think the main problem here is that too many people take the bible as gospel truth (no pun intended)--much of it is allegorical, a "story" to explain things from a religious veiwpoint--however one has to also understand that the Judiaic/Christian version of Creationism is just one view ...many other religions have their own story of how the universe was created--would it be fair to just teach in schools just one story of creationism in public schools..I don't think so. While evolution is still very much a theory, there is science fact...such as the methods themselves of how to date things, such as with Carbon-14 and Potassium-Argon dating methods that prove the existence of the universe, to be billions years old, and of fossils to be millions years old...creationism ideas want people to believe that the universe and everything in it is only a few thousand years old...how can there be such a descrepancy then?? To pull kids out of classes that teaches evolution just shows how narrow and close-minded some people can be

Me neither believe in theory of evolution of life. But you don't have to pull your child from the evolution class, let him know science don't have any other reliable evidence to say about origin of life, so they chose better and latest one among the evolution theory, Let him learn that theory but don't have to believe in it :) I also had studied it from schools, and I remember, I got better marks in Biology ;) I'm still a Muslim and believe life was created by God, and mankind started from Adam & Hawwa(Eve). Cheers!

it is a bad thing, obviously!!!