Creationism has its place, experts say

Do you think creationism should be taught in Hawai'i's public schools? Join our discussion.

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

Although the state Board of Education last week squelched a proposal to add multiple theories of origin in science classes and quieted a firestorm that had erupted over the debate, many forms of creation stories already are part of the academic dialogue in schools.

Even though the teaching of creation isn't part of the discussion in science classes, stories of creation from the Bible and Native Hawaiian traditions enter the classroom through literature, social studies and history classes. And while evolution is used to explain the development of life and origin of species, high school biology textbooks point to divine intervention, extraterrestrial life forms and the development of life from nonliving matter as possible beginnings of life on Earth.

Evolution vs. creationism, pits the theory that living things evolve against the theory that God created humans in their current form. Hawai'i confronted the issue last week when a school board member proposed teaching creationism in public schools.

Evolution is the basic principle for teaching life sciences from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The proposed change in policy did not mention the word "creationism," but made clear that evolution would be emphasized as a theory among other theories. Board member Denise Matsumoto, who offered the new language, had talked about creationism as a possible scientific theory. Thursday, though, she said she had never intended for religion to be taught in the schools.

But in a limited form it already is.

Karen Ginoza, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, spoke out against teaching creationism as science. However, she said creation had a place in literature or social studies classes.

As a fourth-grade teacher, Ginoza said she taught a literature section on origins in which students learned, among other versions, the Genesis story of creation and listened to a Hawaiian chanter explain the formation of the islands. "Science explains natural phenomena," Ginoza said. "There is a place, but not in science."

Mitchell Kahle, president of Hawai'i Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, agreed.

"Creation stories are fine for mythology classes or poetry classes or other classes," he said. "They're actually quite beautiful."

More than 200 people turned out for Thursday's meeting. Most of the those lining the hallway at the Queen Lili'uokalani Building downtown said they didn't want to see creationism taught alongside evolution in science courses in Hawai'i's public schools.

Wally Bachman, a science teacher at Roosevelt High School, brought two textbooks with him to give the school board members a lesson in evolution and creation — chapters 9 and 10 of the textbook "Biology: Visualizing Life." "Evolution teaches the origin of species, not the creation of life," he said.

David Panisnick, professor of religion at Honolulu Community College, teaches a creation and evolution class. His students study stories of creation, learn about the scientific method, study evolution and learn about the historical clash between creationists and evolutionists.

"There are hundreds of stories of creation," Panisnick said. "Basically, they are people talking about themselves and why they find themselves meaningful in the world. They're all basically doing the same thing: how order comes out of chaos, how their god looks like them, how human beings have a place in the world."

Panisnick said stories of creation have a place in public schools, in poetry, literature and social studies.

"Christianity has lots of stories that can be very meaningful," he said. "The intent with which those stories were told is lost when you try to apply science. The Bible asks the believer to have faith, not knowledge."

Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.

Correction: Mitchell Kahle is president of Hawai'i Citizens for the Separation of State and Church. A previous version of this story had the wrong name of the organization.