On the teaching of origins, it seems reasonable to present the theory generally accepted by the majority of the scientists currently studying the issue, along with a clear explanation of the difference between scientific laws and scientific theories. If teachers were not allowed to deal with any subject upon which absolute scientific proof were available, education would be seriously set back.
Teaching of the creation myths espoused by various religions belongs in a comparative religion class. I have absolutely no problem with such classes, as long as the tenets of all religions covered are presented equally, with none being taught as "truth".
If morality would be taught in the home, that should solve many of the problems but, since so many homes have no morality within them, what is the answer?
That's the same explanation that is usually given when people ask why the schools are dabbling in sex education: someone has to do it, and too many parents just aren't meeting their responsibilities. I understand that problem. I also understand the need to have somebody giving a basic background in ethics, and I don't mind having the schools do it. Since we are a multicultural and multireligious society, though, ethics cannot be approached as stemming from any one religious tradition. In my home, I try to approach ethics simply as a set of rules without which human society cannot survive, and which humans create rules to enforce. I was taught the same way. It seems to work pretty well.
My greatest problem with religious teaching is not with God - who seems remarkably silent on all these matters - but with the humans who appoint themselves as his spokesmen. They seem remarkably adept at twisting the religious creeds to fit their particular motives. The idea of teaching children to obey religious figures - or anybody else - reflexively is, I think, very destructive. We must teach them always to question, always to trust their own conscience and their own common sense above anything they are told by anyone, even if that person claims to speak for God. |
