Missouri teacher draws ire of atheist group for teaching creationism

A science teacher in Missouri has drawn complaints from a prominent atheist group for allegedly teaching students creationism instead of evolutionary theory.

In a letter submitted to the Hickman Mills C-1 School District Superintendent Yolanda Cargile, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) complained that a seventh grade science teacher at Smith-Hale Middle School had been teaching young earth creationism and had been including questions in unit tests that were intended at casting doubt upon evolution and the current understanding about the age of the Earth.

Some of the questions, which students were to characterize as true or false, include: "Transitional forms have been found in the fossil record for all animals" (false), "Catastrophe supports sudden species appearance and a younger earth" (true), and "There is no evidence that dinosaurs and humans may have coexisted" (false).

The FFRF contended that teaching creationism and its offshoots, such as intelligent design, in public school is illegal, adding that questioning the validity of the theory of evolution is "akin to teaching astrology with astronomy or alchemy besides chemistry."

The Wisconsin-based group further argued that evolution is a scientific fact just like gravity and no controversy exists within the scientific community regarding the theory.

The secularist group went on to say that the teaching of creation alienates those who practice other religious faiths, those who are nonreligious and those who consider science and religion compatible.

The organization asked the district to conduct an investigation on the matter and take appropriate corrective action.

The district responded to the FFRF's letter by saying, the teacher's questions did not align with state standards and are, therefore, "unacceptable."

"The Hickman Mills C-1 School District has prescribed curriculum that is aligned with standards established by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). All teachers are expected to teach the prescribed curriculum and are not allowed to develop and teach curriculum outside of what has been approved by the school district," Cargile wrote.

Cargile assured the FFRF that the questions highlighted in its letter are not aligned with DESE standards and will not be used in schools.

FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said that it was "appalling that a science teacher would misuse his authority to miseducate students," but she commended the school district for its efforts to ensure that such an incident would not happen again.

She stressed that the prevalence of creationism is holding back the U.S. competitively on a global scale and described it as a national embarrassment.