Why We Teach Evolution at Ben Franklin Academy
Evolution is fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of all biological disciplines. Therefore, students will not be fully educated unless they learn about evolution. Evolution is included in national science standards, Colorado Science Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the Core Knowledge Sequence.
1. Ben Franklin Academy is a Core Knowledge School
Evolution is part of the Grade 7 Core Knowledge Sequence (see page 195):
http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/documents/480/CKFSequence_Rev.pdf
Here is a snapshot of the relevant Grade 7 Science Content:
1. Ben Franklin Academy is a Core Knowledge School
Evolution is part of the Grade 7 Core Knowledge Sequence (see page 195):
http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/documents/480/CKFSequence_Rev.pdf
Here is a snapshot of the relevant Grade 7 Science Content:
2. Ben Franklin Academy's curriculum must meet Colorado State Standards:
Here is a link to the Grade 7 Science Standards:
http://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/coscience/documents/science_7th_grade.pdf
And here is a snapshot of the relevant page:
Here is a link to the Grade 7 Science Standards:
http://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/coscience/documents/science_7th_grade.pdf
And here is a snapshot of the relevant page:
3. Ben Franklin Academy is a STEAM School. Our Mission and Values state:
5. Ben Franklin Academy is a "School of Choice"
- Mission: Our mission is to develop young adults with character like America’s founding Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin: well-read, scientifically curious, and civically engaged.
- Vision:Our students will excel academically through a challenging, sequenced curriculum that emphasizes math, science, and literacy. We will be a data driven institution, focusing on individual students. Our students, teachers, parents, staff, and leaders will be held accountable for the success of our school. Finally, we recognize that an education is incomplete without fostering the arts, sports, nature, and character.
- Understanding the theory of evolution, and the scientific evidence that supports it, is a component of overall scientific literacy. Ben Franklin was nothing if not a model of scientific curiosity and literacy
- You simply cannot teach science without teaching evolution. It is one of the most robust, wide-ranging scientific theories in scientific study.
- Evolution theory, which provides a SCIENTIFIC explanation for the variety and history of life on Earth, is overwhelmingly endorsed by scientists (98%, according to a Pew Research Survey)
- In Every Major Legal Challenge, the Courts have found in favor of teaching evolution as a scientific theory according to the establishment clause of the United States Constitution.
- Summary of the Cases: http://ncse.com/taking-action/ten-major-court-cases-evolution-creationism
- Summary of key findings:
1. A teacher can teach about religion (though not advocate it), and teach the science behind evolution.
2. A state, district or school cannot ban evolution, require equal time for creationism (this includes intelligent design, which according to the courts equates to teaching creationism - see court cases), or require a disclaimer on evolution.
3. An individual teacher cannot teach creationism or creation science "freelance."
5. Ben Franklin Academy is a "School of Choice"
- When you choose to enroll your student at Ben Franklin, it is because you recognize the quality of our curriculum and instruction. You are always free to choose a different school if you decide Ben Franklin is not a good fit for your family.
- There is no Colorado state law that allows for opting out of the teaching of evolution
- The State has left such policies up to the schools, and BFA does not support opting out for the following reasons:
1. Science relies on “evidence to construct testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena” (National Academy of Science, Evolution and Creationism) [link to NAS website resource].Science is not determined by popular vote, public opinion, or religious beliefs. Opting-out of learning specific scientific theories such as evolution is not an appropriate accommodation of a student’s religious beliefs.
2. A student choosing to leave class whenever a topic such as evolution is mentioned will suffer academically. Evolution is a unifying theme in biology, and as such, integrated throughout the biology curriculum. To allow opting out of evolution would require a student to be absent from portions of the course, ultimately limiting the student’s potential to do well in future science courses, and leading to poor performance on district, state, and nation-wide tests.
3. It is also unethical for a school district to certify that a student has taken a district/state approved biology course and met the objectives if they have missed key learning objectives for the course.