A group of churches in Wyoming has voiced its support for a set of educational standards that are controversial in the area, saying it is important for students to learn about evolution and global climate change.
The Wyoming Association of Churches (WAC) stated its support for the Next Generation Science Standards as it views science as an educational subject that deserves to be taught openly without the bias of any belief system. The WAC believes teaching evolution in public schools would not have an adverse effect on people who have faith.
A leader from the group said the state’s recent decision to block these standards infringed upon the rights of students. The views of the WAC is a stark contrast to what a few religious parents reported to the State Board of Education in April this year, with most of them lambasting the science standards for introducing an atheistic worldview to students.
“It’s just a historical statement. None of us have any problems with understanding evolution, and it does not interfere with faith,” said the Reverend Warren Murphy, an Episcopalian minister and environmental projects coordinator for the Wyoming Association of Churches.
The WAC represents 10 Protestant denominations across the state and said conflicts begin when the Bible is taken literally, which many sects of Christianity tend to do. Murphy explained how the Bible says the earth is only 6,000 years old while the Next Generation Science Standards say it is 4.6 billion years old instead.
“Science is important, peer-proven… Faith is something else. It shouldn't interfere with what science is doing. Whether it was 6,000 years ago or Adam and Eve or dinosaurs, it was all created by God… Our concern isn’t fighting the Legislature, and it's not to take issue with other people's faith. It’s simply saying faith is a belief system; science isn't. Let’s keep them separate,” Murphy said.
Mary Walker, representative for the WAC, said that science and faith are two different things but they can go hand in hand. According to her, it is fair for parents and children to debate over what is being taught in class but it is not fair for the state to restrict learning opportunities for students.
The Next Generation Science Standards was developed by 26 states along with several national science education groups. It is used by school districts and teachers to pick textbooks and prepare lesson plans for students. The Board of Education has instructed a committee to convene the state’s science standards in July and Au
gust this year.
