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Running head: CREATIONISM AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION

Creationism and The Theory of Evolution: A Dispute Over Dominican Education

Priscilla Meja Hernndez

ID: 1069208

Rhetoric and Composition

Instituto Tecnolgico de Santo Domingo

Ruth Espinola, Teacher

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CREATIONISM AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION
Creationism and The Theory of Evolution: A Dispute Over Dominican Education

It is a right for every Dominican citizen to get an education, and the way that people are

equally granted said education is through public schools that the Dominican Ministry of

Education oversees and structures. The Dominican Ministry of Education establishes not only

what should be taught at public schools, but also at private ones. The Dominican Ministry of

Education should not allow Christian schools to replace The Theory of Evolution with

Creationism because they belong to different fields of education, the theory of evolution is the

base of many scientific fields included in the ministrys science curriculum and it would go

against the ministrys policies of total social inclusion.

While the Theory of Evolution is a scientific theory, the other is a philosophical claim

based on religious beliefs, therefore, one cannot take the place of the other. The Theory of

Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the changes in the traits of organisms over multiple

generations, and because of this, according to the Dominican Ministry of Education, its teachings

belong in the Natural Sciences Curriculum (Dominican Ministry of Education, 2013).

Creationism is a philosophical stand point that bases all its evidence on The Bible, a book used

not for scientific but for religious purposes. Some creationists do try to make Creationism seem

like a scientific theory, but as stated by science professors Matt Young and Paul Strode, Its

proponents know in advance the answer they want, and they formulate untestable hypotheses to

obtain those answers, denying the scientific method (Strode, Young, 2009, p.58).

According to the United States National Academy of Science and Institute of Medicine,

the study of biological evolution has transformed our understanding of life on this planet and

its the base of modern biology (National Academy of Science (US), Institute of Medicine (US),

2008, p.4), which is essential for an integral education, as declared by the Dominican Ministry of
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CREATIONISM AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION
Education (Dominican Ministry of Education, 2013). As the preeminent scientist Theodosius

Dobzhansky stated, nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution

(Dobzhansky, 1973). The Theory of Evolution explains the striking similarities among vastly

different forms of life, the changes that occur within populations, and the development of new

life forms, as stated by the US National Academy of Science and Institute of Medicine (National

Academy of Science (US), Institute of Medicine (US), 2008, p.4). Excluding evolution from the

science would deprive students of this fundamental and unifying scientific concept to explain the

natural world.

The Dominican Ministry of Education is clear when setting among its objectives that an

appropriate education must be provided with equity for every citizen without exclusion

(Dominican Ministry of Education, 1997). Even though Christian schools are private schools

and because of this its owners can choose under which traditions they impart their teachings;

private schools must follow the curriculum established by the Dominican Ministry of Education.

Replacing the Theory of Evolution with Creationism would deprive those who are not Christian

of receiving an appropriate education for them, that is why Dominican education should not be

based on any doctrines, so anyone who has access to it can profit from it.

Christian schools in the Dominican Republic must not teach Creationism instead of The

Theory of Evolution because they serve different purposes, the Dominican science curriculum

includes many topics based on the Theory of Evolution and because it would appeal to only a

certain part of the population.

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CREATIONISM AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION
References
Dobzhansky T., (1973). The American Biology Teacher. Published by: National Association of

Biology Teachers.

Ministerio de Educacin de la Repblica Dominicana. (1997). Objectives and Strategies.

Retrieved from: http://www.ministeriodeeducacion.gob.do/sobre-nosotros/quienes-somos

Ministerio de Educacin de la Repblica Dominicana. (2013). Inform Area of Natural Sciences

and its Technologies.

National Academy of Sciences, (. (U.S.), & Institute of Medicine, (. (U.S.). (2008). Science,

Evolution, and Creationism. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.

Young, M., & Strode, P. K. (2009). Why Evolution Works (and Creationism Fails). New

Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.