Title: The Teaching of Evolution | NSTA
Headings: The Teaching of Evolution
The Teaching of Evolution
Introduction
Declarations
Within this context, NSTA recommends that
NSTA Offers the Following Background Information:
The Nature of Science and Scientific Theories
Evolution as a Unifying Concept
Creationism and Other Non-Scientific Views
Legal Issues
References
Additional Resources

Content: Policy makers and administrators should not mandate policies requiring the teaching of “creation science” or related concepts, such as so-called “intelligent design,” “abrupt appearance,” and “arguments against evolution.” Administrators also should support teachers in resisting pressures to promote nonscientific views, to deemphasize or eliminate the study of evolution, or to misrepresent the nature of science and how questions in science are answered by asking students to consider the validity of evolution through a classroom debate. Administrators and school boards should provide support to teachers as they review, adopt, and implement curricula that emphasize evolution. Professional development designed to assist teachers in teaching evolution in a comprehensive and informed manner is an essential part of this support. Parental and community involvement in establishing and supporting the goals of science education and the curriculum development process should be encouraged and nurtured in our democratic society. However, the professional responsibility of science teachers and curriculum specialists to provide students with quality science education should not be compromised by censorship, pseudoscience, inconsistencies, faulty scholarship, political influences, or unconstitutional mandates. Science textbooks should emphasize evolution as a unifying concept. Publishers should not be required or volunteer to include disclaimers in textbooks that distort or misrepresent the methodology of science and the current body of knowledge concerning the nature and study of evolution. —Adopted by the NSTA Board of Directors, July 2013
NSTA Offers the Following Background Information: The Nature of Science and Scientific Theories
Science is a method of testing natural explanations for natural objects and events.