Evolution could soon be taught differently in Texas, as the State Board of Education is expected to cast its vote on a revised curriculum that puts science experts and creationism supporters on opposite sides. The hearing held on Wednesday focused mostly on whether Darwin’s theory should be presented to students with both weaknesses and strengths.

 

The use of the term weaknesses proved controversial for the attendees. While some of them believe it could influence children into perceiving the evolution theory as an unsupported story. Furthermore, the term is believed to be an attempt to make students reject evolution, and adopt creationism instead.

 

On the other hand, others believe that children should be taught evolution in a manner that allows them to judge on their own the explanations and evidence brought by the evolution theory. But this, some say, is only a way of undermining evolution and promoting creationism.

 

The law under discussion this week has already been adopted in several other states, and will remain in place for the next decade.

 

Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education in California said that not using the inaccurate terms strengths and weaknesses doesn’t mean ruling out other theories.

 

Scientists generally view this attempt to introduce the two terms as a way of putting creationism and religion above the scientific theory of evolution. Scott argued: the phrase ‘strengths and weaknesses’ has been spread nationally as a slogan to bring creationism in through the back door (NY Times).