*The following story is an opinion piece of one reporter and does not reflect, nor represent the views of the Crimson Connection staff.*

Before we start, let me define the word ‘theory’, more specifically, the difference between a conversational theory and a scientific theory. One means an idea or a hunch someone has, while the other is an explanation supported by facts that have been repeatedly confirmed by observations and experiments. 

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, evolution is a theory, just like electricity, atoms, gravity, combustion, heliocentrism, etcetera. We’re not debating if these theories should be taught, but that’s only because none of them invalidate established religious beliefs. Although evolution conflicts with certain faiths, we shouldn’t censor material just because it doesn’t agree with unsupported and non-science related opinions.

Evolution, quite simply put, is a gradual process in which species adapt to a changing environment. With this being said, there is no debate as to whether or not evolution should be taught. Evolution is the basis of nearly all scientific fields related to life; therefore, it would be a great injustice to not only ourselves but future generations to not learn it. If you’ve ever taken an advanced biology-related or medical class, there is no way around evolution; it almost always is the answer to every how or why question. Even in the most basic unit of life, the cell, evolution is necessary to gain a better understanding of the most fundamental biological functions. For example, the endosymbiotic theory affirms that the energy-producing organelles, the mitochondria and the chloroplast, were prokaryotic endosymbionts (organelles that lived inside prokaryotes). The mitochondria and chloroplasts perform two of the most important processes for organisms: cellular respiration and photosynthesis which most organisms could not survive without. Knowing the origins of these organelles is vital in understanding how we function. If schools fail to teach evolution, students would miss a crucial part of their education in learning the basics of life.

I understand that not everyone is going to go into a field where science is necessary, but that does not invalidate the point of learning evolution. For scientists, it is important to know that viruses and bacteria are evolving and that we need to update our medicine to combat evolved pathogens. However, as consumers, it is just as important to know that, if we use the original Penicillin, it won’t be efficient in killing microorganisms because the bacteria have evolved resistance. I would hope that someone with scarlet fever, even if they are not a scientist, would know this before they tried using outdated and ineffective antibiotics.

The end goal of science is to seek the truth, so naturally, ideas and concepts change as technology improves and as new evidence shines new light on previous beliefs. In that sense, science is a constantly evolving subject, so our knowledge is always expanding. We shouldn’t fear learning evolution because it “might” be wrong. In fact, 10 years ago, it was taught in textbooks that Columbus was a hero; now, we know that to not be true–that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have learned about Columbus in the first place. It is inevitable that certain topics we learn in school will be wrong. Misinformation happens, but the only way to avoid misinformation would be to not learn anything at all.

Although everyone has different beliefs, evolution should be taught in school. Not only is it one of the most accepted theories in biology, it is important to learn the past of our planet’s life, so we can understand our bodies and predict and plan for our future. 

Photo provided by Flickr User: The British Library
Read the other side here: https://www.thecrimsonconnection.com/7134/opinions/should-evolution-be-taught-in-schools/#photo