13% of High School Bio Classes Push Creationism

Only 28% advocate evolution; most take middle ground
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 28, 2011 5:29 PM CST
Updated Jan 30, 2011 12:30 PM CST
13% of High School Bio Classes Push Creationism
An undated file photo showing Michaelangelo's fresco "La Creazione" (The Creation), one of the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City.   (AP Photo, File)

About 13% of high school biology teachers nationwide push creationism as the process by which humans came to exist on Earth, LiveScience reports. A Penn State survey found that the majority of bio teachers—about 60%—take a soft stance on the contentious issue, avoiding definitive statements about either creationism or evolution to avoid controversy.

But two minorities take firmer stances for their chosen positions: 28% of teachers teach evolution and discount creationism, while 13% agreed they "explicitly advocate creationism or intelligent design by spending at least one hour of class time presenting it in a positive light." (More biology stories.)

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